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COLONEL WILLLA.M FREDERIC CODY
(* 'BUFFALO BILL")

"CHIEF OF SCOUTS"

Photograph of Buffalo Bill in his uniform as *' Chief of
Scouts" of the United States Army, a position created for him
and never conferred upon any other man. It is easy to trace
in his countenance the traits indicative of his noble character.

MEMORIAL EDITION

Buffalo Bars Own Story

His Life and Deeds

This Autobiography tells in His Own Graphic

Words the Wonderful Story of his

Heroic Career

His Story shows his Devotion to Duty as a Child when Supporting his Widowed

Mother, His Valuable Services to the Government while riding in the Famous

"Pony Express'* and Vividly Portrays his Thrilling Experiences as Hunter

and Scout while acting as Guide to the Army and Trains of Prairie

Schooners — His many Hair-breadth Escapes in his Fights with

Indians, Desperadoes and while Hunting Buffalo and other

Wild Animals, as well as his Later Triumphs in

Conducting the Tours of his Great Wild West

Exhibition in the United States and Europe

His Autobiography is brought up to date includ-
ing a full account of his Death and Burial

Written by his Boy-hood Chum and Life-long Friend,

WILLIAM LIGHTFOOT VISSCHER, LL. B

Historian end Poet

Author of "The Pony Express,'* ••Away Out Yonder,"

••A Knight of the West*', etc., etc.

The whole comprising an Authentic History of many
Incidents inseparably interwoven with the Explor-
ation, Settlement and Development of the
Great Western Plains.

Illustrated with Rare Engravings and Photographs

TO THE AMERICAN AND ENGLISH PUBLICS, AT WHOSE GENEROUS HANDS
HAVE RECEIVED SO MANY FAVORS, HOSPITABLE ATTENTION
AND NUMEROUS SPECIAL KINDNESSES ;

AND

TO THE ARMY OF THE FRONTIER, THE BRAVE COMRADES AND PIONEERS

WHOSE VALOROUS DEEDS, THOUGH UNWRITTEN IN THEIR COUNTRY'S

ANNALS, AND WHOSE GRAVES ' ARE UNMARKED SAVE BY THE

SOUGHING OAK OR THE MODEST DAISY, BUT WHO HAVE

LEFT THE HERITAGE OF A MILLION HAPPY AND

PROSPEROUS HOMES IN THE REDEEMED WEST,

THIS BOOK

IS INSCRIBED, BY ONE WHO HOLDS THEIR COURAGEOUS LIVES IN GRATEFUL

REMEMBRANCE.

W. F. CODY (BuFPAi^ Bill).

THE GREAT SCOUT

By F. P. Livingston

Across the rolling, trackless plains

I see a vision as of old.
Aye, like a knight in armor girt,

As noble, free and quite as hold;
His flowing locks and massive brow

Proclaimed the gallant life he

While toiling to prepare the way
For those who built an empire vast.
They called him Bill —
Just Buffalo Bill.

What were the thoughts that filled
his brain
While waiting for the final call?
Methinks he saw the Wood-stained
trail,
The rifles flash, the red man's fall.
The war-whoop and the massacre.
Ah, God! His life was one great
fight
To master man and elements.
To force the erring mortal right.
They called him Bill-
Just Buffalo Bill.

He loved the fellowship of man.
But on the veldt his fame was
earned;
On silent plain, on lonesome trail
Where drifting sand in summer
burned,
And winter chilled unto the bone.

By night, by day, he saw the star
That lifted him beyond his peers;
That made him first in peace or
war.

They called him Bill-
Just Buffalo Bill.

The last of all the famous scouts
That blazed the way across the
sand,
He led the van thru lands unknown.
Where now a hundred cities stand.
His princely mien, his kindly deeds,
Will long resound from hearth to
hearth.
Strange tales they'll tell by fireside
Of mighty deeds and of his worth.
They called him Bill-
Just Buffalo Bill.

INTRODUCTION

While writing principally autobiographically, I have sought to
describe that great general movement westward — ^that irresistible
wave of emigration which, arrested for a time by the Alleghenies,
rose until at last it broke over and spread away across mountain,
stream and plain, leaving States in its wake, until stopped by the
shores of the Pacific.

The evolution of government and of civilization, and the adapta-
tion of one to the other, are interesting to the student of history;
but particularly fascinating is the story of the reclamation of the
Great West and the supplanting of the wild savages that from
primeval days were lords of the country but are now become wards
of the Government, whose guardianship they were forced to recog-
nize. This story is one well calculated to inspire a feeling of pride
even in the breasts of those whose sentimentality impels to com-
miserate the hard lot of the poor Indian; for, rising above the
formerly neglected prairies of the West are innumerable monu-
ments of thrift, industry, intelligence, and all the contributory
comforts and luxuries of a peaceful and God-fearing civilization;
those evidences that proclaim to a wondering world the march of
the Anglo-Saxon race towards the attainment of perfect citizenship
and liberal, free and stable government.

For the small part I have taken in redeeming the West from
savagery, I am indebted to circumstances rather than to a natural,
inborn inclination for the strifes inseparable from the life I was
almost forced to choose. But to especially good fortune must I make
my acknowledgments, which protected me or preserved my life a
hundred times when the very hand of vengeful fate appeared to
lower its grasp above my head, and hope seemed a mockery that I
had turned my back upon. Good fortune has also stood ever respon-

INTRODUCTION.

sive to my call since I first came before the public, and to the
generous American and English peoples, as well as to kind fortune,
I here pour out a full measure of profound thanks and hearty
appreciation, and shall hold them gratefully in my memory as a
remembrance of old friends, until the drum taps ''lights out"
at the close of the evening of my eventful life.

PREFACE

There are tears, and sighs, and tender words today for the strong,
brave man, Colonel Cody.

The Indians, who had been his foes and then became his loving
friends, called him, in their child-of-nature way, affectionately
"Pahaska" — man of long hair.

To the white men of his comradeship, he was ** Buffalo Bill," and
he has gone Over the Divide.

To the Indians, **Pahaska'' has gone to the Happy Hunting
Grounds.

To the boys and girls of America and Europe, Colonel Cody, ** Buf-
falo Bill, " * * Pahaska, ' ' has gone up yonder where the light of heaven
shines through the stars.

This is why there are tears, and sighs, and tender words today for
the strong, brave man.

Pahaska 's going away left a deep sorrow in the hearts of millions
of people. Even the Indians loved him and grieve because he has
gone, and yet Pahaska was one of the greatest Indian fighters. He
only fought them when they were doing wrong, and they knew that.
At other times he did much to show them how to keep in the right
and often when they had troubles among themselves or with the white
people, the Indians would send for Pahaska — ^Buffalo Bill — ^to help
them to settle the troubles among themselves by coming to them and
'* arbitrating" for them, or in sometimes going to Washington City
to talk to the Great White Father for them.

Today they are mourning far more for Pahaska than they would
for even a great chieftain, because Pahaska knew better how to help
them, and did it.

All over the civilized world white people, especially boys and girls,
are mourning because Buffalo Bill has passed away.

Every boy and girl in America and all of Europe should know
whatever they can about the famous scout and pioneer, "Buffalo

Vm PREFACE.

Bill, ' ' whose real name was William Frederic Cody. He was a true-
hearted man who loved all children, and nearly everybody else. He
delighted to have children about him ; strong, healthy boys and girls,
and he often sent carriages and automobiles to orphan asylums and
to the asylums for crippled children and had them brought by hun-
dreds to enjoy his show. He spent the best part of his young man-
hood to make homes for boys and girls as well as grown folks, by
doing all that he could to open up a vast wilderness where they could
have gardens, and orchards, and parks to play and dance and skate
in, and where they could have schools, churches and theaters, with
all the good that these bring to boys and girls for life.

'* Buffalo Bill" risked his life thousands of times and suffered
years of hardship and danger to make the great Wild West of
America the land of homes that much of it is now. When he began
this work he was but a boy himself. At that time there was on the
map of the United States in every schoolboy's geography a big white
spot on the left side, between the Missouri River and Pacific Ocean,
that was named * ' The Great American Desert. ' ' It was a vast stretch
of plains, in some places bare and arid, in other places covered with
a growth called Buffalo Grass. Over this wilderness roamed mighty
herds of buffalo and other wild animals, and the savage Indians, who
mostly lived upon the flesh of these animals.

Buffalo Bill and his associates, pioneers, plainsmen, scouts and
guides, spent many years in driving away the savages and leading
civilized people to this land that has been made to bloom with gar-
dens, fields and orchards, where are the homes of millions of happy
people.

Buffalo Bill wrote his own story in this book up to a certain period
of his life, and to that has been added, by one who knew and loved
him for fifty years, the further interesting history of the big-hearted,
warm-souled, brave and daring, but kindly man, who, from an uned-
ucated boy on the far western plains, became the friend and associate
of sovereigns and rulers of nations, governors of states, writers of
books, captains of industry and leaders of civilization in all that
exalts and embellishes enlightened life.

At the time when the Kansas Pacific Road was being constructed

PREFACE. IX

from Kansas City to Denver, I was engaged as "the staff" on the
Kansas City Journal of Commerce (afterwards the Journal).

During this period I frequently went out upon the construction of
the Kansas Pacific Railroad for the purpose of obtaining *' stories"
for our paper. Colonel William Frederick Cody — then called Will
Cody — had been engaged by the contractors to supply buffalo meat
to feed the graders. Thus I often met Cody, who, by this employ-
ment, gained the pseudonym of "Buffalo Bill."

During the many years following my association with Colonel
Cody on the plains, he and I were intimate and devoted friends, and
I would like to record here my deep sorrow at his taking off, which
seems untimely to me for the reason that I am more than three years
his elder.

In all the years that followed, I frequently met Colonel Cody, and
particularly during his engagement at the World 's Columbian Expo-
sition in Chicago in 1893. Often when he was with The Wild West
in the neighborhood of Chicago, he would telegraph me to join him
and be his guest. Notably was this the case at the time of his engage-
ment at Buffalo during the Panama- American Exposition, where I
remained almost constantly in his company, and afterwards at the
Trans-Mississippi Exposition at Omaha, of which I speak more in
detail in the following pages.

There are some persons of the generation just grown into manhood
who naturally enough did not comprehend the character of William
Frederick Cody. In their generations he was known to them only
as a showman. It was impossible for them to even understand and
appreciate to the fullest extent the powerful object lesson which he
was then bearing to them in The Wild West Exposition. For this
they are not to be blamed. His greatest days were before their days.

The fact is that from a boy brought up on the plains of the far
west, without the advantages of academic education, he became, from
a messenger between wagon trains on the route from the Missouri
River to Pike's Peak, the close friend and intimate of men of the
better class all the way from simple, everyday manhood to the most
exalted sovereigns and rulers of earth's nations.

He was one of the pony express riders who carried the mails on

X PREFACE.

horseback from St. Joseph, Mo., to Sacramento, Cal., and whose trail
was afterward followed by the Union Pacific and Central Pacific
railroads, every mile of the distance between the two cities named,
except the short distance between St. Joseph, Mo., and Kearney,
Neb., and Omaha and Kearney, the road taking that latter route
because of a peculiar incident that occurred during the intervening
time.

Mr. Lincoln was president of the United States, and among his
prerogatives was that of naming the point from which the trans-
continental road should start westward. In St. Joseph one day some
young men whose political proclivities in the war time were more
intense than their judgment was good, climbed to the postoffice in
that city and tore down and destroyed the American flag. This
angered Mr. Lincoln and his cabinet to the extent that when the
railroad was to be started, Omaha was named as the initial point, and
this did much toward the building of Omaha.

As is shown plentifully throughout this book, *' Buffalo Bill"
served his country as a soldier ; his services as one of the most notable
of scouts was demanded by the best Indian fighters of the West, and
he became the ** Chief Scout" of the American Army.

After all of his valuable services as soldier, scout, guide, he
gathered whatever evidences he could of the wild life of the West
and presented it forty years for the education of three generations of
Americans and Europeans as the greatest object lesson in ethnology
that has ever been seen in the world.

That such a man's life history should be demanded is the belief of
the publishers of this book, and to help the boys and girls of the
world, as well as the grown-ups, to know all the truth about this
mighty man, now so deeply mourned, the book is published.
Respectfully yours,

William Lightpoot Visscher.

Chicago, January 25, 1917.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL

CHAPTER I.

Incidents of My Childhood — Iowa in the Early Days — Removed to Kansas
— Boyhood Experiences in Kansas — A Barbecue to the Indians — The Tide of
Immigration — Warfare on the Border — The Stabbing of My Father — Father 's
Escape from a Mob — Renewed Efforts to Kill Father — Efforts to Make Kan-
sas a Slave State — My Engagement with the Great Overland Freighters — A
Mob Outwitted by My Mother — Another Attempt on Father 'a Life 15-34

CHAPTER IL

My First Love Affair — A Bloody Affray at School — Pursued by the
Wounded Boy 's Father — In Service on the Plains — My First Fight with Indi-
ans— How I Killed My First Indian — A Feeling of Relief — On the Road to
Salt Lake — Description of a Bull Outfit — The Trail — A Buffalo Stampede —
Captured by Danites — Burning of the Train by Mormons — On the Point of
Starvation — Attacked by Indians — A Timely Rescue — Engage in Trapping —
A Horrible Discovery — Off for Pike's Peak — ^Engagement as Pony Exprestj
Rider 35-62

CHAPTER IIL

Accidents and Escapes — Trapping on the Republican — I Break My Leg —

My Partner Goes in Search of Help — A Desperate Situation — Objectionable

Company — Indians Take Possession of My Dug-out — Return of Harrington —

A Joyous Meeting — Our Return Home — Death of Brave Harrington 63-70

CHAPTER IV.

Adventures on the Overland Road — A Pony Express Rider Again — Pursued
by Indians — Attack on a Stage Coach — A Charge through the Indian Camp —
A General Drunk but Only One Murder — A Hunt for Bear — A Robber 's Haunt
Discovered — In a Tight Place — Killing One of the Robbers — My Escape — A
Newly-Made Brave 71-83

CHAPTER V.

An Inglorious Service — Bushwhacking in Missouri — A Meeting with Wild
Bill — ^Busted at a Horse-race — A Duel in the Street 84-87

CHAPTER VL
How I Became a Soldier — With the Jayhawkers — A Singular Meeting with
Wild Bill — Acting as a Spy — A Pleasant Little Episode — A Wonderful
Escape 88-94

CHAPTER VIL

Courtship and Marriage — My Bridal Trip— -Taken for a Desperado — A
Party of Our Own — A Close Call — Keeping an Hotel — Acting as a Guide to
Custer — A Fight with the Indians — A Cholera Outbreak 95-103

CHAPTER Vin.
A Millionaire in Prospective — A Howl from Rome — A Gentleman that Just
Dropped in — Contractor on the K. P. R. R. — A Little Sport with the Hostiles
— Brigham to the Front — A Pretty Buffalo Drive — A Big Surprise for the

Xll CONTENTS.

Officers — In Pursuit of Indians — An Excited Colored Gentleman — How I Re-
ceived the Title "Buffalo Bill"— A Race for My Scalp— A Great Shot-
Sauce for the Gander — Run to Cover by Indians — Sending up a Signal for
Help 104-120

CHAPTER IX.

Champion Buffalo Killer — A Match with Comstock — A Dash into the Herd

— An Exhibition for the Ladies — Riding a Naked Horse into the Herd —

Tragic Death of Comstock — Brigham and I Part Company — ^A Trick of

Brigham 's 121-128

CHAPTER X.
Acting as Special Scout — Captured by Indians — A Clever Ruse Secures My
Escape— Stretching My Mule — Ambushing the Pursuers — Chief Satanta
Threatens the Post — Going on the War-Path — Dispatch Bearer — Off in the
Dark — Stumbling onto a Hornet's Nest — An Interview with Sheridan — A
Long Ride — A Dangerous Undertaking — A Provoking Mule — Getting Satis-
faction 129-147

CHAPTER XL
My Appointment as Chief of Scouts — Running into a Band of Indians —
Bringing Live Buffaloes into Camp — A Scared Irishman-^A Lively Shaking
Up — In Search of Indians — A Crack Shot — On the Trail — Out in a Dry Coun-
try— Surprised by Indians 148-159

CHAPTER XII.
A Hard Winter's Campaign — A Rough March — Making a Break Down a
Canyon — A Turkey Hunt with Clubs — Rescue of a Starving Command — Inter-
cepting a Beer Train — A Free Fight among the Scouts 160-167

CHAPTER XIII.
Accused of Selling Government Horses — Arrested and Thrown into the
Guard House — Captured by the Colored Troops — Dispute over a Telegram —
In Pursuit of Horse Thieves — The Thieves Run Down — Escape and Wonderful
Flight of a Thief — An Extraordinary Run for Liberty — A Successful Break
in the Dark — ^Breaking up the Gang 168-180

CHAPTER XIV.

A Military Expedition — Mixed on the Expenditures — A Big Indian Trail —

Attack on the Courier — A Lieutenant in Sharp Quarters — Driving the Enemy

before Us — Re-enforced by Pawnee Scouts — A Comical Sight — Battle between

Sioux and Pawnees — Buckskin Joe — The Indians Think Better of Me. .181-194

CHAPTER XV.

A Desperate Fight — A Charge through the Indian Village — Corraled by

Indians — Killing of the Chief, Tall Bull — Meeting with Ned Buntline — Horse

Racing in the Hostile Country — The Trick of Powder-Face — An Interesting

Indian Tradition 195-207

CHAPTER XVI.
Some Pleasing Novelties — In Pursuit of Indian Horse Thieves — Two Indi-
ans Bagged at a Single Shot — A Tough Officer — Pawnee Indians on Guard
Duty — A Red Hot Situation — Appointed Justice of the Peace — A Peculiar
Writ of Replevin — Performing a Marriage Ceremony — A Run for Our
Lives 208-221

CHAPTER XVIL
Entertaining a Distinguished Party — Putting on a Little Style for the Occa-
sion— An Attack on the Buffaloes — An Accident to Leonard Jerome — Charged
with a Heinous Offense — Still Pursuing the Enemy — Camp-fire Chats — A Lit-

CONTENTS. . Xlll

tie Joke on McCarthy — Eemains of the Murdered Buck Party — Hunting with
Grand Duke Alexis— A Visit to Spotted Tail— They Wanted to Lift My Hair
— Giving Duke Alexis the Cue — Killing His First Buffalo — Giving the Duke a
Shaking Up— Some Presents from the Duke 222-242

CHAPTER XVIII.
Scouting in a Swallow-tail Outfit — A Great Trip East — Banqueted at Chi-
cago— A Guest of the Union Club, New York — A Masquerade Ball — A Fellow
that Looked Like Me — My Embarrassment at the Theatre — My First Appear-
ance on the Stage — Return to the West * 243-249

CHAPTER XIX.
Again on the Indian Trail — A Charge on the Indians — A Sharp Fight —
Wounded — Hunting with an Earl — A Party that Milligan Refused to Attend
— Roping a Buffalo^ — Elected to the Legislature 250-257

CHAPTER XX.
An Actor — Studying the Parts — Now, Here 's a How D 'do— Buntline 's Ver-
satility— The Tide Taken at the Flood — A Little Funny Business — Criticisms
of the Press — Lively Experience of Wild Bill — A Hunt with Mr. Medley —
Guide to the Third Cavalry — On the Road Again — Death of My Little
Boy 258-271

CHAPTER XXI.

Scouting with the Fifth Cavalry — Indian Depredations — Report of the
Custer Massacre — Causes Leading Thereto — Custer 's Reports — Miners in the
Black Hills — Indians Supplied with Ammunition by the Government — War
Declared Against the Sioux — Movement of Troops — Crook Attacked by Sit-
ting Bull — Custer Selected to Strike the Blow — Custer Strikes the Indians —
Hoping Against Hope — The Massacre — After the Murderers of Custer — A
Challenge — My Duel with Yellow Hand — A Moment of Great Danger — The
First Scalp for Custer — Again in Pursuit of the Sioux — A Little Dust Causes
an Excitement — Again on the Trail 272-295

CHAPTER XXII.
Dangerous Work — Scouting on a Steamboat — A Ride Through the Bad
Lands — A Terrible Journey — Lying Low — Return to the Mimic Stage — On a
Round-up — Putting Real Indians on the Stage 296-306

CHAPTER XXIII.
An Ambitious Enterprise — Opening of the Wild West Show — Nate Salsbury
Joins Me as a Partner — A Sketch of Salsbury 's Active Life — A Bigger Show
Put on the Road — The Show Dumped into the Mississippi — Our Losses in
New Orleans — A Season in New York — A Hazardous Undertaking — Seeking
New Worlds to Conquer — We Sail for England — Immense Excitement Cre-
ated in London — Visit of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria — Her Majesty Salutes
the American Flag — A Race for $2500 — An Enthusiastic Farewell — Sailing
for New York — A Pathetic Incident at Sea — Reception upon Our Arrival
at New York — The Joy of Stepping upon the Soil of Dear America Again —
Happy Meeting with Friends 307-337

CHAPTER XXIV.
World's Columbian Exposition — Other Visits to Europe — A Knight of the
West — Love and Devotion to His Mother — Pahaska Friend of the Indians —
Buffalo Bill Not a " Cusser ' '—Death and Burial 338-352

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

BUFFALO BILL

CHAPTER I.

INCIDENTS OP MY CHILDHOOD.

I have written about other scouts and pioneers; such renowned
men as Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett and Kit Carson, but they were
dead before I wrote of them. Otherwise, perhaps, I would not have
had the hardihood to do it, because I had great respect for them in a
general way and their capacity for ' * getting even. ' '

I wrote of these men because the atmosphere and environment in
which they had lived were peculiarly pleasant to me. There was a
kinship, so to speak, in their love of the lives they led, with my own
early ambitions and the experiences that followed.

But when it comes to writing of myself I am staggered, yet to
stagger is not easy with me. Strange as it may seem, all things con-
sidered, I am a modest man, and I can prove it. Reminiscent writing
demands one kind of egotism, but that does not signify self-conceit.
One cannot indulge in personal reminiscence without frequent use
of the personal pronoun, hence to tell the story here demanded of
me the *' ego" must occur often, otherwise the story could not be told
autobiographically.

One strong and almost mandatory reason to me, and self -excuse,
for doing this piece of work, that is anything but enticing, otherwise,
is to tell the real truth concerning my experiences rather than to
have go into history, as veracious, much of the romantic and dramatic
stuff that has been attributed to me by persons who have written of
** Buffalo Bill'* and who depended upon hearsay, and more or less
vivid imagination, for their extravagant consumption of good ink
and paper used in the manner mentioned.

With all this in view, commanding as it does the leniency that it
seeks, the story is herewith given so far as I am able to give it from
memory.

16 8TOBY OF THE WILD WEST.

I made my debut upon the stage of life February 26th, 1845.
The scene of this extremely important event, to me, was a little
log cabin situated in the backwoods of Scott County, Iowa, where
opportunities were few and society was in a state of embryo, as
the settling up of that State was just then beginning. My
father, Isaac, and mother, Mary Ann, were honest folks, but
their possessions comprehended scarcely anything more than
good characters and eight children, of which latter I was fourth
in rank. I was christened William Frederick, which name I
have never discarded, though more than once in my life I would
have found it convenient, and decidedly to my comfort, to be
known, for the time being at least, as some other fellow.

If in early youth I was different from other boys it was be-
cause I was without example and not from any inherent distin-
guishing characteristics. Playmates I had none, save among my
brothers, and of these there were only two, one of whom was too
young to appreciate my ambitions and the other too old to in-
dulge my fancies. Accordingly, we were forced to the rather
unsatisfactory compromise of each brother playing by himself, a
condition very harmful in the raising of a large family.

My father did not make a successful farmer, and when I was
&Ye years of age he abandoned the log cabin of my nativity and
moved the family to a little village fifteen miles north of Daven-
port, on the Mississippi Kiver, named LeClair. A year before
this removal he became so seriously affected by the California
fever that he resolved to emigrate to that exciting climate of
gold, flowers, oranges, sweet odors and fighting whisky. A
party was organized, an outfit provided and a start was made,
but after proceeding some fifty miles on the way they all thought
it best to change their former determination before increasing
the distance from home, and carried this idea so far and success-
fully that every one in the party returned to their respective
habitations.

At LeClair I was sent to a school where, by diligence and
fairly good conduct I managed to familiarize myself with the
alphabet, but further progress was arrested by a suddenly de-

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 17

veloped love for skiff-riding on the Mississippi, which occupied
so much of my time thereafter that really I found no convenient
opportunity for further attendance at school, though neither my
father nor mother had the slightest idea of my new found, self-
imposed, employment, much to my satisfaction, let me add.
When I was thrown in the society of other boys I was not slow
to follow their example, and I take to myself no special credit
for my conduct as a town-boy; for, like the majority, I foraged
among neighboring orchards and melon patches, rode horses
when I was able to catch them grazing on the commons, trapped
innocent birds, and sometimes tied the exposed clothes of my
comrades while they were in swimming and least suspicious of
my designs or acts. I would not like to admit any greater
crimes, though anything may be implied in the confession that I
was quite as bad, though no worse, than the ordinary every-day
boy who goes barefoot, wears a brimless hat, one suspender and
a mischievous smile.

REMOVAL TO KANSAS.

Shortly after my father's removal to LeClairhe became a stage-
driver on the line between Davenport and Chicago, but he had
not followed this occupation long when he was chosen a justice
of the peace, and soon after was elected to the Legislature, po-
sitions which reflected honor rather than material profit.
He was a very popular man and I may with justice
also add that he possessed considerable ability for the
meager opportunities he had received. But he was a natural
pioneer and his longing for new fields of adventure led him away
from the place where his popularity was rapidly extending, and
to the wilds of what was then the far West. Following the
bent of his inclination, in the spring of 1852 he disposed of a
small farm he owned at Walnut Grove, and packing his posses-
sions in one carriage and three wagons he started with his fam-
ily for the territory of Kansas. Father had a brother, Elijah,
living at that time at Weston, Platte County, Missouri, near
the Kansas line, and as he was a well-to-do merchant of the

18 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

place, father concluded to stop with him awhile until he could
decide upon a desirable location in the territory. The overland
trip was an uneventful one, save as it gave me an opportunity
for seeing a large stretch of uninhabited wilderness, and the meet-
ing of several rough characters on the route of which we stood
in no small dread, and afforded me my first sight of a negro.
When within twenty miles of Weston we asked permission to
stop at a farm-house owned by a widow lady, but owing to the
feeling of insecurity excited by frequent acts of pillage and out-
rage committed by a bad class of emigrants, our request was
refused until, by chance, my father mentioned his brother's
name, when a conversation was begun that resulted in a
hospitable welcome from the widow, whose name was Burnes, and
who was well acquainted with my uncle Elijah. We stopped at
the farm-house a day and were regaled with many good things,
among which was wheat-bread, something that I had not before
eaten nor ever heard of, as corn-dodger had always been the
chief staff of our frugal lives.

On the following day father and mother drove over to Weston
in the carriage and in the evening returned with Elijah, who was
very glad to see us and who took us to his home in Weston where
we remained for some time. Father did not tarry long, but
crossed over into Kansas, on a prospecting tour, hoping to find
a place in which to settle his family. He visited the Kickapoo
agency in Leavenworth County and soon after established a trad-
ing post at Salt Creek Valley, within four miles of the agency.
Having thus entered into business, he settled his family on a farm
belonging to Elijah, three miles from Weston, intending that
we should remain here until the territory was opened up for set-
tlement.

BOYHOOD DAYS IN KANSAS.

At this time Kansas was occupied by numerous tribes of In-
dians who were settled on reservations, and through the territory
ran the great highway to California and Salt Lake City. In ad-
dition to the thousands of gold-seekers who were passing through
Kansas by way of Ft. Leavenworth, there were as roany mo^e

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP BUFFALO BILL. 19

Mormons on their hegira from Illinois to found a new temple in
which to propagate their doctrines. This extensive travel made
the business of trade on the route a most profitable one. But
with the caravans were those fractious elements of adventurous
pioneering, and here I first saw the typical Westerner, with white
sombrero, buckskin clothes, long hair, moccasined feet and a
belt full of murderous bowies and long pistols. But instead of
these outre peculiarities impressing me with feelings of trepida-
tion, they inspired me with an ambition to become a daring
plainsman. The rare and skillful feats of horsemanship which I
daily witnessed bred in me a desire to excel the most expert ;
and when, at seven years of age my father gave me a pony, the
full measure of my happiness had ripened, like Jonah's gourd,
in a night. Thenceforth my occupation was horseback riding, in
which pleasurable employment I made myself useful in perform-
ing necessary journeys in father's interest.

In anticipation of the early passage of what was known as the
*' Enabling Act of Kansas Territory," which was then pending
before Congress, my father, in the fall of 1853, took his family
from the farm of his brother and settled them at the post in Kan-
sas, where he at once set about erecting suitable log buildings.
In the succeeding winter the act was passed which opened up
the territory for settlement, and father immediately pre-empted
the claim on which he was living.

During the summer of this year we lived in our little log
house, and father continued to trade with the Indians, who be-
came very friendly ; hardly a day passed without a social visit
from them. I spent a great deal of time with the Indian boys , who
taught me how to shoot with the bow and arrow, at which I be-
came quite expert. I also took part in all their sports, and
learned to talk the Kickapoo language to some extent.

Father desired to express his friendship for these Indians, and
accordingly arranged a grand barbecue for them. He invited
them all to be present on a certain day, which they were; he
then presented them with two fat beeves, to be killed and cooked
in the various Indian styles. Mother made several large boilers

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

full of coffee, which she gave to them, together with sugar and
bread. There were about two hundred Indians in attendance at
the feast, and they all enjoyed and appreciated it. In the even-
ing they had one of their grand fantastic war dances, which
greatly amused me, it being the first sight of the kind I had ever
witnessed.

My Uncle Elijah and quite a large number of gentlemen and
ladies came over from Weston to attend the entertainment.

The Indians returned to their
homes well satisfied.

My uncle at that time owned a
trading post at Silver Lake, in
the Pottawattamie country, on
the Kansas river, and he arranged
an excursion to that place.
Among the party were several
ladies from Weston, and father,
mother and myself. Mr. Mc-
Meekan, my uncle's superin-
tendent, who had come to Weston
for supplies, conducted the party
to the post.

The trip across the prairies
was a delightful one and we re-
mained at the post several days.
Father and one or two of the
STAKING OUT CLAIMS. men went on to Fort Kiley to

view the country, and upon their return my uncle entertained the
Pottawattamie Indians with a barbecue similar to the one given
by father to the Kickapoos.

During the latter part of the summer father filled a hay con-
tract at Fort Leavenworth. I passed much of my time among
the campers, and spent days and days in riding over the country
with Mr. William Russell, who was engaged in the freighting
business and who seemed to take a considerable interest in me.
Id this way I became acquainted with many wagon-masters,

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 21

hunters and teamsters, and learned a great deal about the busi-
ness of handling cattle and mules.

It was an excellent jchool for me, and I acquired a great deal
of practical knowledge, which afterwards I found to be of in-
valuable service, for it was not long before I became employed
by Majors & Russell, remaining with them in different capacities
for several years.

The winter of 1853-54 was spent by father at our little prairie
home in cutting house logs and fence rails, which he intended
to use on his farm, as soon as the bill for the opening of
the territory should pass. This bill, which was called the
** Enabling act of Kansas territory,*' was passed in April, 1854,
and as before stated father immediately pre-empted the claim on
which we were living.

The summer of that year was an exciting period in the history
of the new territory. Thousands and thousands of people, seek-
ing new homes, flocked thither, a large number of the emigrants
coming over from adjoining States. The Missourians, some of
them, would come laden with bottles of whisky, and after drink-
ing the liquor would drive the bottles into the ground to mark
their land claims, not waiting to put up any buildings.

WARFARE ON THE BORDER.

Every reader of American history is familiar with the disorders
which followed close upon the heels of the ** Enabling Act."
Pending its passage the western boundary of Missouri was ablaze
with the camp fires of intending settlers. Thousands of families
were sheltered under the canvas of their ox wagons, impatiently
awaiting the signal from the Nation announcing the opening of
the territorial doors to the brawny immigrants, and when the
news was heralded the waiting host poured over the boundary
line and fairly deluged the new public domain.

In this rapid settlement of the territory a most perplexing
question arose, which was contested with such virulence that a
warfare was inaugurated which became a stain upon the nation's
escutcheon, and was not abated until the Missouri and Kansas

22 STORY OF THE WILD WEST

borders became drunk with blood. Nearly all those who came
from Missouri were intent upon extending slavery into the terri-
tory, whilst those who emigrated from Illinois, Iowa and Indiana
and sought homes in the new domain were equally determined
that the cursed hydra-head of slavery should never be reared in
their midst. Over this question the border warfare began, and
its fierceness can only find comparison in the inquisitorial perse-
cutions of the fifteenth century. Men were shot down in their
homes, around their firesides, in the furrows behind the plow, —
everywhere. Widows and orphans multiplied, the arm of indus-
try was palsied, while the incendiary torch lit up the prairie
heavens, feeding on blighted homes and trailing along in the path
of granaries and store-houses. Mobs of murder-loving men,
drunk with fury, and with hearts set on desolation, day and night
descended upon unguarded households, and tearing away hus-
bands and brothers from the loving arms of wives and sisters,
left their bodies dangling from the shade trees of their unhappy
homes, or shot them down where their blood might sear the eyes
of helpless, agonized relatives. Anguish sat on every threshold,
pity had no abiding-place, and for four years the besom of de-
struction, with all its pestilential influences, blighted the prairies
and rendered every heart on the border sad and despondent.

THE STABBING OF MY FATHER

In this war of vengeance the Cody family did not escape a full
measure of affliction. Near the Salt Creek trading post was an-
other store, kept by a Missourian named Rively, around which a
considerable settlement had been made, which became the ren-
dezvous of many different elements, and particularly of pro-
slavery men, who enjoyed Rively 's sympathies. In the summer
of 1854, and within a few months after the *' Enabling Act*' was
passed, a very large meeting was held at the popular rendezvous,
and father being present was pressed to address the crowd on the
slavery question, he being regarded as favorably disposed to making
Kansas a slave territory, owing to the fact that his brother, Elijah,
was a Missourian.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

After much urging he at length spoke substantially as follows :
*' Gentlemen: You have called upon me for a speech, and 1
have accepted your invitation rather against my will, as my views
may not accord with the sentiments of a majority of this assembly.
My remarks will therefore be brief and to the point. The ques-
tion before us to-day is, shall the territory of Kansas admit
slavery, and hereafter, upon her admission, shall she be a slave
State? The question of slavery is itself a broad one, which will
not permit of discussion at length in this place. I apprehend
that your motive in calling upon me is to have me express my

MURDEROUS ATTACK UPON MY FATHER.

sentiments in regard to the introduction of slavery into Kansas.
I shall gratify your wishes in that respect. I was one of the
pioneers of the State of Iowa, and aided in its settlement when
it was a territory, and helped to organize it as a State.

''Gentlemen, I voted that it should be a white State — that
negroes, whether free or slave, should never be allowed to locate
within its limits; and, gentlemen, I say to you now,^ and I say it
boldly, that I propose to exert all my power in making Kansas
the same kind of a State as Iowa. I believe in letting slavery
remain as it now exists, and I shall always oppose its further ex-

24 STORT OP THE WILD WEST.

tension. These are my sentiments, gentlemen, and let me tell
you "

He never finished this sentence, or his speech, His expressions
were anything but acceptable to the rough-looking crowd, whose
ire had been gradually rising to fever heat, and at this point they
hooted and hissed him, and shouted, * * You black Abolitionist, shut
up!" **Get down from that box I" **Kill himT' ** Shoot
him !" and so on. Father, however, maintained his position on the
dry goods box, notwithstanding the excitement and numerous invi-
tations to step down, until a hot-headed pro-slavery man, who was
in the employ of my Uncle Elijah, crowded up and said: *' Get
off that box, you black Abolitionist, or I'll pull you off."

Father paid but little attention to him, and attempted to re-
sume his speech, intending doubtless to explain his position and
endeavor to somewhat pacify the angry crowd. But the fellow
jumped up on the box, and pulling out a huge bowie knife,
stabbed father twice, who reeled and fell to the ground. The
man sprang after him, and would have ended his life then and
there, had not some of the better men in the crowd interfered in
time to prevent him from carrying out his murderous intention.

The excitement was intense, and another assault would probably
have been made on my father, had not Kively hurriedly carried
him to his home. There was no doctor within any reasonable
distance, and father at once requested that he be conveyed in the
carriage to his brother Elijah's house in Weston. My mother and
a driver accordingly went there with him, where his wounds were
dressed. He remained in Weston several weeks before he was
able to stir about again, but he never fully recovered from the
wounds, which eventually proved the cause of his death.

My uncle of course at once discharged the ruffian from his
employ. The man afterwards became a noted desperado, and
was quite conspicuous in the Kansas war.

father's escape from an armed mob.

My father's indiscreet speech at Rively's brought upon our
family all of the misfortunes and difficulties which from that time

AOTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 25

on befell us. As soon as he was able to attend to his business
again, the Missourians began to harass him in every possible way,
and kept it up with hardFy a moment's cessation. Kickapoo City,
as it was called, a small town that had sprung into existence seven
miles up the river from Fort Leavenworth, became the hot-bed
of the pro-slavery doctrine and the headquarters of its advocates.
Here was really the beginning of the Kansas troubles. My father,
who had shed the first blood in the cause of the freedom of Kan-

FIGHT WITH THE WYANDOTTES.

sas, was notified, upon his return to his trading post, to leave the
territory, and he was threatened with death by hanging or
shooting, if he dared to remain.

One night a body of armed men, mounted on horses, rode up
to our house and surrounded it. Knowing what they had come
for, and seeing that there would be but little chance for him in
an encounter with them, father determined to make his escape by
a little stratagem. Hastily disguising himself in mother's bon-
net and shawl, he boldly walked out of the house and proceeded
V>ward8 the corn-field. The darkness proved a great protectiout

26 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

as the horsemen, between whom he passed, were unable to detect
him in his disguise ; supposing him to be a woman, they neither
halted him nor followed him, and he passed safely on into the
corn-field, where he concealed himself.

The horsemen soon dismounted and inquired for father;
mother very truthfully told them that he was away. They were
not satisfied with her statement, however, and they at once made
a thorough search of the house. They raved and swore when
they could not find him, and threatened him with death whenever
they should catch him. I am sure if they had captured him that
night they would have killed him. They carried off nearly
everything of value in the house and about the premises ; then
going to the pasture, they drove off all the horses; my pony,
Prince, afterward succeeded in breaking away from them and
came back home. Father lay secreted in the corn-field for three
days, as there were men in the vicinity who were watching for
him all the time ; he finally made his escape, and reached Fort
Leavenworth in safety, whither the pro-slavery men did not
dare to follow him.

While he was staying at Fort Leavenworth he heard that Jim
Lane, Captain Cleveland and Captain Chandler were on their
way from Indiana to Kansas with a body of Free State men, be-
tween two and three hundred strong. They were to cross the
Missouri Eiver near Doniphan, between Leavenworth and Ne-
braska City, their destination being Lawrence. Father deter-
mined to join them, and took passage on a steamboat which was
going up the river. Having reached the place of crossing, he
made himself known to the leaders of the party, by whom he was
most cordially received.

The pro-slavery men, hearing of the approach of the Free
State party, resolved to drive them out of the territory. The
two parties met at Hickory Point, were a severe battle was
fought, several being killed; the victory resulted in favor of the
Free State men, who passed on to Lawrence without much
further opposition. My father finally left them, and seeing that
he could no longer live at home* went to Grasshopper Falls,

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL

thirty-five miles west of Leavenworth; there he began the erec-
tion of a saw-mill.

While he was thus engaged we learned from one of our hired
workmen at home, that the pro-slavery men had laid another plan
to kill him, and were on their way to Grasshopper Falls to carry
out their intention. Mother at once started me off on Prince
(my pony) to warn father of the coming danger. When I had

TO SAVE MY FATHER'S LIFE

gone about seven miles I
suddenly came upon a
party of men who were
camped at the crossing of
Stranger Creek. As I
passed along I heard one
of them, who recognized me, saying, *' That's the son of the old
Abolitionist we are after;" and the next moment I was com-
manded to halt.

Instead of stopping I instantly started my pony on a run, and
on looking back I saw that I was being pursued by three or four
of the party, who had mounted their horses, no doubt supposing
that they could easily capture me. It was very fortunate that
I had heard the remark about my being *Hhe son of the Aboli-

28 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

fcionist." for then I knew in an instant that they were en route
to Grasshopper Falls to murder my father. I at once saw the
importance of my escaping and warning father in time. It was
a matter of life or death to him. So I urged Prince to his ut-
most speed, feeling that upon him and myself depended a human
life — a life that was dearer to me than that of any other man in
the world. I led my pursuers a lively chase for four or five
miles; finally, when they saw they could not catch me, they re-
turned to their camp. I kept straight on to Grasshopper Falls,
arriving there in ample time to inform father of the approach of
his old enemies. That same night he and I rode to Lawrence,
which had become the headquarters of the Free State men.
There he met Jim Lane and several other leading characters, who
were then organizing what was known as the Lecompton Legis^
lature. Father was elected a member of that body, and took an
active part in organizing the first Legislature of Kansas, unde?
Governor Keeder, who, by the way, was a Free State man and a
great friend of father's.

About this time agents were being sent to the East to induce
emigi'ants to locate in .Kansas, and father was sept «3 one of
these agents to Ohio. After the Legislature had been organized
at Lawrence, he departed for Ohio and was absent several months.
4. few days after he had gone, I started for home by the way of
Fort Leavenworth, accompanied by two men, who were going to
the fort on business. As we were crossing a stream called Little
Stranger, we were fired upon by some unknown party; one of
my companions, whose name has escaped my memory, was killed.
The other man and myself put spurs to our horses and made a
dash for our lives. We succeeded in making our escape, though
a farewell shot or two was sent after us. At Fort Leavenworth
I parted company with my companion, and reached home with-
out any further adventure.

My mother and sisters, who had not heard of my father or
myself since I, had been sent to warn him of his danger, had be-
come very anxious and uneasy about us, and were uncertain as
to whether we were dead or alive. 1 received a warm welcome

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 29

home, and as I entered the house, mother seemed to read from
the expression of my countenance that father was safe ; of course
the very first question she asked was as to his whereabouts, and
in reply I handed her a long letter from him which explained
everything. Mother blessed me again and again for having saved
his life.

While father was absent in Ohio, we were almost daily visited
by some of the pro-slavery men, who helped themselves to any-
thing they saw fit, and frequently compelled my mother and sis-
ters to cook for them, and to otherwise submit to a great deal oi
bad treatment. Hardly a day passed without some of them in-
quiring '* where the old man was," saying they would kill him on
sight. Thus we passed tho summer of 1855, remaining at our
home notwithstanding the unpleasant surroundings, as mother
had made up her mind not to be driven out of the country. My
uncle and other friends advised her to leave Kansas and move to
Missouri, because they did not consider our lives safe, as we
lived so near the headquarters of the pro-slavery men, who had
sworn vengeance upon father.

Nothing, however, could persuade mother to change her de-
termination. She said that the pro-slavery men had taken every-
thing except the little home, and she proposed to remain there as
long as she lived, happen what might. Our only friends in Salt
Creek Valley were two families ; one named La ». rence, the other
Hathaway, and the peaceable Indians, who occasionally visited
us. My uncle, living in Missouri and being somewhat in fear of
the pro-slavery men, could not assist us much, beyond express-
ing his sympathy and sending us provisions.

In the winter of 1854-55 father returned from Ohio, but as
soon as his old enemies learned that he was with us, they again
compelled him to leave. He proceeded to Lawrence, and there
spent the winter in attending the Lecompton Legislature. The
remainder of the year he passed mostly at Grasshopper Falls,
where he completed his saw-mill. He occasionally visited home
under cover of the night, and in the most secret manner; virtu-
ally carrying his life in his hand.

30 8TOBY OP THB WILD WEST.

In the spring of this year (1855) a pro-slavery party came to
our house to search for father; not finding him, they departed,
taking with them my pony, Prince. I shall never forget the
man who stole that pony. He afterwards rose from the low
level of a horse thief to the high dignity of a justice of the peace,
and I think still lives at Kickapoo. The loss of my faithful
pony nearly broke my heart and bankrupted me in business, as I
had nothing to ride.

ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GREAT OVERLAND FREIGHTERS.

One day, soon afterwards, I met my old friend, Mr. Eussell,
to whom I related all my troubles, and his generous heart was
touched by my story. *' Billy, my boy," said he, «* cheer up,
and come to Leavenworth, and I'll employ you. I'll give you
twenty-five dollars a month to herd cattle."

I accepted the offer, and heartily thanking him, hurried home
to obtain mother's consent. She refused to let me go, and all
my pleading was in vain. Young as I was — being then only in
my tenth year, my ideas and knowledge of the world, however,
being far in advance of my age — I determined to run away from
home. Mr. Russell's offer of twenty-five dollars a month was a
temptation which I could not resist. The remuneration for my
services seemed very large to me, and I accordingly stole away
and walked to Leavenworth.

Mr. Badger, one of Mr. Russell's superintendents, immediately
sent me out, mounted on a little gray mule> to herd cattle. 1
worked at this for two months, and then came into Leavenworth.
I had not been home during all this time, but mother had learned
from Mr. Russell where I was, and she no longer felt uneasy, as
he had advised her to let me remain in his employ. He assured
her that I was all right, and said that when the herd came in he
would allow me to make a visit home.

Upon my arrival in Leavenworth with the herd of cattle, Mr.
Russell instructed his book-keeper, Mr. Byers, to pay me my
wages, amounting to fifty dollars. Byers gave me the sum all in
half-dollar pieces. I put the bright silver coins into a sack,

32 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

which I tied to my mule, and started home, thinking myself a
millionaire. This money I gave to mother, who had already
forgiven me for running away.

Thus began my service for the firm of Russell & Majors, after-
wards Russell, Majors & Waddell, with whom I spent seven years
of my life in different capacities — such as cavallard-driver,
wagon- master, pony express rider and driver. I continued to
work for Mr. Russell during the rest of the summer of 1855,
and in the winter of 1855-56 I attended school.

Father, who still continued to secretly visit home, was anxious
to have his children receive as much education as possible, under
the adverse circumstances surrounding us, and he employed a
teacher, Miss Jennie Lyons, to come to our house and teach. My
mother was well educated — more so than my father — and it used
to worry her a great deal because her children could not receive
better educational advantages. However, the little school at
home got along exceedingly well, and we all made rapid advances
in our studies, as Miss Lyons was an excellent teacher. She
afterwards married a gentleman named Hook, who became the
first mayor of Cheyenne, where she now lives.

A MOB OUTWITTED.

The Kansas troubles reached their highest pitch in the spring
of 1856, and our family continued to be harassed as much as
ever by our old enemies. I cannot now recollect one-half of the
serious difficulties that we had to encounter ; but I very distinctly
remember one incident well worth relating. I came home one
night on a visit from Leavenworth, being accompanied by a fel-
bw-herder — a young man. During the night we heard a noise
outside of the house, and soon the dogs began barking loudly.
"We looked out to ascertain the cause of the disturbance, and saw
that the house was surrounded by a party of men. Mother
had become accustomed to such occurrences, and on this occa-
sion she seemed to be master of the situation from the start.
Opening a window, she coolly sang out, in a firm tone of voice:
*< Who are you? What do you want here ?' *

"BUFFALO BILL"— HUNTER

Colonel Cody acquired his name ''Buffalo Bill" at the time
he hunted and killed 4,280 buffaloes for Goddard Brothers, "who
had the contract for boarding the laborers engaged in builvling
the Kansas Pacific Eailroad.

BUFFALO BILL'S FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH

showing his famous saddle-lariat, and his gun, "Lucretia Borgia, '* which
he tells about using to such good advantage when hunting buffalo and
fighting the Indians.

OE GO-YAT-THLAY, THE YAWNEB,

THE RENOWNED APACHE CHIEF AND MEDICINE MAN.
Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 33

** We are after that old Abolition husband of yours," was the
answer from one of the crowd.

<« He is not in the house and has not been here for a long
time," said my mother.

** That's a lie ! We know he is in the house and we are bound
to have him," said the spokesman of the party.
( I afterwards learned they had mistaken the herder , who had ridden
home with me, for my father, for whom they had been watching.

'* My husband is not at home," emphatically repeated my he-
roic mother — for if there ever was a heroine she certainly was
one — ** but the house is full of armed men," continued she,
'* and I'll give you just two minutes to get out of the yard; if
you are not out by the end of that time I shall order them to fire
on you."

She withdrew from the window for a few moments and hur-
riedly instructed the herder to call aloud certain names — any
that he might think of — just as if the house were full of men to
whom he was giving orders. He followed her directions to the
very letter. He could not have done it any better had he re-
hearsed the act a dozen times.

The party outside heard him, as it was intended they should,
and they supposed that my mother really had quite a force at
her command. While this little by-play was being enacted, she
stepped to the open window again and said: —

*< John Green, you and your friends had better go away or the
men will surely fire on you."

At this point the herder, myself and my sisters commenced
stamping on the floor in imitation of a squad of soldiers, and the
herder issued his orders in a loud voice to his imaginary troops,
who were apparently approaching the window preparatory to fir-
ing a volley at the enemy. This little stratagem proved emi-
nently successful. The cowardly villains began retreating, and
then my mother fired an old gun into the air which greatly accel-
erated their speed, causing them to break and run. They soon
disappeared from view in the darkness.

The next morning we accidentally discovered that they had in-

34 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

tended to blow up the house. Upon going into the cellar which
had been left open on one side, we found two kegs of powder
together with a fuse secreted there. It only required a lighted
match to have sent us into eternity. My mother's presence of
mind, which had never yet deserted her in any trying situation,
had saved our lives.

ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE MY FATHER.

Shortly after this affair I came home again on a visit and found
father there sick with fever and confined to his bed. One day
my old enemy rode up to the house on my pony Prince, which
he had stolen from me.

** What is your business here to-day? '* asked mother.

«* I am looking for the old man," he replied. ** I am going to
search the house, and if I find him I am going to kill him. Here,
you girls,'' said he, addressing my sisters, ** get me some dinner,
and get it quick, too, for I am as hungry as a wolf."

*' Very well; pray be seated, and we'll get you something to eat,"
said one of my sisters, without exhibiting the least sign of fear.

He sat down, and while they were preparing a dinner for him,
he took out a big knife and sharpened it on a whetstone, repeat-
ing his threat of searching the house and killing my father.

I had witnessed the whole proceeding and heard the threats,
and I determined that the man should never go upstairs where
father was lying in bed unable to rise. Taking a double-bar-
reled pistol, which I had recently bought, I went to the head of
the stairs, cocked the weapon, and waited for the ruflian to come
up, determined, that the moment he set foot on the steps I would
kill him. I was relieved, however, from the stern necessity, as
he did not make his appearance.

The brute was considerably intoxicated when he came to the
house, and the longer he sat still the more hi^ brain became mud-
died with liquor, and he actually forgot what he had come there
for. After he had eaten his dinner, he mounted his horse and
rode off, and it was a fortunate thing for him that he did.

Father soon recovered and returned to Grasshopper Falls,
while I resumed my cattle herding.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

CHAPTER n.

MY FIRST LOVE AFFAIR,

OMMON school advantages were denied us in
the early settlement of Kansas, and to pro-
vide a means for educating the few boys and
girls in the neighborhood of my home, a
subscription school was started in a small
log-cabin that was built on the bank of a
creek that ran near our house. My mother
took great interest in this school and at her
persuasion I returned home and became en-
rolled as a pupil, where I made satisfactory progress until the
evil circumstance of a love affair suddenly blasted my prospects
for acquiring an education.

Like all school-boys, I had a sweetheart with whom I was
*«dead in love" — in a juvenile way. Her name was Mary
Hyatt. Of course I had a rival, Stephen Gob el, a boy about
three years my senior — the "bully" of the school. He was
terribly jealous, and sought in every way to revenge himself
upon me for having won the childish affections of sweet little
Mary.

The boys of the school used to build play-houses or arbors
among the trees and bushes for their sweethearts. I had built
a play-house for Mary, when Steve, as we called him, leveled it
to the ground. We immediately had a very lively fight, in
which I got badly beaten. The teacher heard of our quarrel and
whipped us both. This made matters worse than ever, as I had
received two thrashings to Steve's one; I smothered my angry
feelings as much as possible under the humiliating circumstances,
and during the afternoon recess built another play-house, think-
ing that Gobel would not dare to destroy a second one ; but I
was mistaken, for he pushed the whole structure over at the first

STORY OP THE WILD WEST.

opportunity. I came up to him just as he finished the job, and
said: —

<* Steve Gobel, the next time you do that, I'll hurt you.'*
And I meant it too; but he laughed and called me names.

At recess, next morning, I began the construction of still an-
other play-house, and when I had it about two-thirds finished,
Steve slyly sneaked up to the spot and tipped the whole thing
over. I jumped for him with the quickness of a cat and clutch-
ing him by the throat for a
^ ^ .-^'^^£__-^ moment I had the advantage

^r/h=i\ ^f^"^^ of him. But he was too strong

for me, and soon had me on
the ground and was beating
me severely. While away
from home I had some way
come into possession of a very
small pocket dagger, which I
had carried about with me in
its sheath, using it in place of
a knife. During the struggle
this fell from my pocket, and
my hand by accident rested
upon it as it lay upon the
ground. Exasperated beyond
measure at Steve's persistence
in destroying my play-houses,
TWO TO ONE. and smarting under his blows,

I forgot myself for the moment, grasped the dagger and unthink-
ingly thrust it into Steve's thigh. Had it been larger it would
probably have injured him severely ; as it was, it made a small
wound, sufficient to cause the blood to flow freely and Steve to
cry out in affright: *' I am killed ! O, I am killed 1"

The school children all rushed to the spot and were terrified
at the scene. <* What's the matter?" asked one. ** Bill Cody
has killed Steve Gobel," replied another.

The uproar reached the teacher's ear, and T now saw him ap*

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 37

proaching, with vengeance in his eye and a big club in his hand.
I knew that he was coming to interview nie. I was dreadfully
frightened at what I had done, and undecided whether to run
away or to remain and take the consequences ; but the sight of
that flag-staff in the school teacher's hand was too much for me.
I no longer hesitated, but started off like a deer. The teacher
followed in hot pursuit, but soon became convinced that he could
not catch me, and gave up the chase. I kept on running, until
I reached one of Russell, Major & Waddell's freight trains which
I had noticed going over the hill for the West. Fortunately for
me I knew the wagon-master, John Willis, and as soon as I re
covered my breath I told him what had happened.

*' Served him right, Billy!" said he, ** and what's more, we'll
go over and clean out the teacher."

*' Oh no; don't do that," said I, for I was afraid that I might
fall into the hands of the wounded boy's friends, who I knew
would soon be looking for me.

** Well, Billy, come along with me ; I am bound for Fort
Kearney ; the trip will take me forty days. I want you for a
cavallard driver. ' '

** All right," I replied, ** but I must go home and tell mother
about it, and get some clothes."

*' Well, then, to-night after we make our camp, I'll go back
with you."

PURSUED BY THE WOUNDED BOY'S FATHER.

The affray broke up the school for the rest of the day as the
excitement was too much for the children. Late in the afternoon,
after the train had moved on some considerable distance, I saw
Steve's father, his brother Frank, and one of the neighbors
rapidly approaching.

**Mr. Willis, there comes old Gobel, with Frank and some-
body else, and they are after me — what am I going to do?" I
asked.

*' Let 'em come," said he, '^ they can't take you if I've got
anything to say about it, and I rather think I have. Get into

38 STORY OP THE WILD WEST.

one of the wagons— keep quiet and lay low. I'll manage this little
job. Don't you fret a bit about it.''

I obeyed his orders and felt much easier.

Old Gobely Frank and the neighbor soon came up and inquifed
for me.

^ He's aroand here tomewhere," said Mr. Willis.

"We want him," said Gobel; "he stabbed my son a little while
ago, and I want to arrest him."

^Well, you can't get him; that settles it; so you needn't waste
any of your time around here," said Willis.

Gobel continued to talk for a few minutes, but getting no greater
satisfaction, the trio returned home.

When night came, Willis accompanied me on horseback to my
home. Mother, who had anxiously searched for me everywhere —
being afraid that something had befallen me at the hands of the
Gobels — was delighted to see me, notwithstanding the difficulty
in which I had become involved. I at once told her that at
present I was afraid to remain at home, and had accordingly
made np my mind to absent myself for a few weeks or months—
at least until the excitement should die out. Mr. Willis said to
her that he would take me to Fort Kearney with him, and see
that I was properly cared for, and would bring me back safely in
forty days.

Mother at first seriously objected to my going on this trip, fearing
I would fall into the hands of Indians. Her fears, however, were
soon overcome, and she concluded to let me go. She fixed me up
a big bundle of clothing and gave me a quilt. Kissing her and
my sisters a fond farewell, I started off on my first trip across the
plains, with a light heart, too, notwithstanding my trouble of a few
hours before.

The trip proved a most enjoyable one to me, although no incidents
worthy of note occurred on the way. On my return from Fori
Kearney I was paid off the same as the rest of the employees. The
remainder of the summer and &11 1 spent in herding cattle and work-
ing for Russell, Majors <& Waddell.

I finally ventured home — not without soooe fear^ however.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP BUFFALO BILL, 39

of the Gobel family — and was delighted to learn that during
my absence mother had had an interview with Mr. Gobel, and
having settled the difficulty with him, the two families had be-
come friends again, and I may state, incidentally, that they ever
^remained so. I have since often met Stephen Gobel, and we
have had many a laugh together over our love affair and the af-
fray at the school-house, Mary Hyatt, the innocent cause of the
whole difficulty, is now married and living in Chicago. Thus
ended my first love scrape.

In the winter of 1856-57 my father, in company with a man
named J. C. Boles, went to Cleveland, Ohio, and organized a col-
ony of about thirty families, whom they brought to Kansas and
located on the Grasshopper. Several of these families still re-
side there.

It was during this winter that father, after his return from
Cleveland, caught a severe cold. This, in connection with the
wound he had received at Rively's — from which he had never
entirely recovered — affected him seriously, and in April, 1857,
he died at home from kidney disease.

. lis sad event left my mother and the family in poor circum-
stances, and I determined to follow the plains for a livelihood
for them and myself. I had no difficulty in obtaining work under
my old employers, and in May, 1857, I started for Salt Lake
City with a herd of beef cattle, in charge of Frank and Bill Mc-
Carthy, for General Albert Sidney Johnston's army, which was
then being sent across the plains to fight the Mormons.

MY FIRST FIGHT WITH INDIANS.

Nothing occurred to interrupt our journey until we reached Plum
Creek, on the South Platte River, thirty-five miles west of Old
Fort Kearney. We had made a morning drive and had camped
for dinner. The wagon-masters and a majority of the men
had gone to sleep under the mess wagons ; the cattle were being
guarded by three men, and the cook was preparing dinner. No
one had any idea that Indians were anywhere near us. The first
warning we had that they were infesting that part of the country

^ n

40 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

was the firing of shots and the whoops and yells from a party oi
them, who, catching us napping, gave us a most unwelcome sur-
prise. All the men jumped to their feet and seized their guns.
They saw with astonishment the cattle running in every direction,
they having been stampeded by the Indians, who had shot and
killed the three men who were on day-herd duty, and the red
devils were now charging down upon the rest of us.

I then thought of mother's fears of my falling into the hands
of the Indians, and I hrA about made up my mind that such was
to be my fate; but when I saw how coolly and determinedly the
McCarthy brothers were conducting themselves and giving orders
to the little band, I became convinced that we would <* stand the
Indians off,'' as the saying is. Our men were all well armed with
Colt's revolvers and Mississippi yagers, which last carried a bul-
let, and two buckshots.

The McCarthy boys, at the proper moment, gave orders to
fire upon the advancing enemy. The volley checked them, al-
though they returned the compliment, and shot one of our party
through the leg. Frank McCarthy then sang out, '* Boys, make
a break for the slough yonder, and we can then have the bank
for a breast-work."

We made a run for the slough which was only a short distance
off, and succeeded in safely reaching it, bringing with us the
wounded man. The bank proved to be a very effective breast-
work, affording us good protection. We had been there but a
short time when Frank McCarthy, seeing that the longer we were
corraled the worse it would be for us, said: —

** Well, boys, we'll try to make our way back to Fort Kearnej
by wading in the river and keeping the bank for a breast- work."

We all agreed tnat this was the best plan, and we accordingly
proceeded down the river several miles in this way, managing to
keep the Indians at a safe distance with our guns, until the slough
made a junction with the main Platte River. From there down
we found the river at times quite deep, and in order to carry the
wounded man along with us, we constructed a raft of poles for
his accommodation, and in this way he was transported.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 41

Occasionally the water would be too deep for us to wade, and
ive were obliged to put our weapons on the raft and swim. The
Indians followed us pretty close, and were continually watching
for an opportunity to get a good range and give us a raking fire.
Covering ourselves by keeping well under the bank, we pushed
ahead as rapidly as possible, and made pretty good progress, the
night finding us still on the way and our enemies yet on our
track.

HOW I KILLED MY FIRST INDIAN.

I being the youngest and smallest of the party, became some-
what tired, and without noticing it I had fallen behind the others
for some little distance. It was about ten o'clock and we were
keeping very quiet and hugging close to the bank, when I hap-
pened to look up to the moon-lit sky and saw the plumed head of
an Indian peeping over the bank. Instead of hurrying ahead and
alarming the men in a quiet way, I instantly aimed my gun at his
head and fired. The report rang out sharp and loud on the night
air, and was immediately followed by an Indian whoop, and the
next moment about six feet of dead Indian came tumbling into
the river. I was not only overcome with astonishment, but was
badly scared, as I could hardly realize what I had done. I expected
to see the whole force of Indians come down upon us. While I
was standing thus bewildered, the men, who had heard the shot
and the war-whoop and had seen the Indian take a tumble, came
rushing back.

« Who fired that shot? " cried Frank McCarthy.

*' I did," replied I, rather proudly, as my confidence returned
and I saw the men coming up.

** Yes, and little Billy has killed an Indian stone-dead — too
dead to skin," said one of the men, who had approached nearer
than the rest, and had almost stumbled upon the corpse. From
that time forward I became a hero and an Indian killer. This
was, of course, the first Indian I had ever shot, and as I was not
then more than eleven years of age, my exploit created quite a
sensation.

The other Indians, upon learning what had happened to their

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

advance fired several shots without effect but which hastened our
retreat down the river. We reached Fort Kearney just as th^

KILLING MY FIRST INDIAN.

reveille was being sounded, bringing the wounded man with us.
After the peril through which we had passed it was a relief to feel

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

that once more I was safe after such a dangerous initiation.

Frank McCarthy immediately reported to the commanding offi-
cer and informed him of all that had happened. The command-
ant at once ordered a company of cavalry and one of infantry to
proceed to Plum Creek on a forced march — taking a howitzer
with them — to endeavor to recapture the cattle from the In-
dians.

The firm of Eussell, Majors & Waddell had a division agent at
Kearney, and this agent mounted us on mules so that we could
accompany the troops. On reaching the place where the Indians
had surprised us, we found the bodies of the three men whom
they had killed and scalped, and literally cut into pieces. We of
course buried the remains. We caught but few of the cattle;
the most of them having been driven off and stampeded with
the buffaloes, there being numerous immense herds of the latter
in that section of the country at the time. The Indians' trail
was discovered running south towards the Republican river, and
the troops followed it to the head of Plum creek, and there
abandoned it, returning to Fort Kearney without having seen a
a single redskin.

The company's agent, seeing that there was no further use for
us in that vicinity — as we had lost our cattle and mules — sent
us back to Fort Leavenworth. The company, it is proper to
state, did not have to stand the loss of the expedition, as the
government held itself responsible for such depredations l\y the
Indians,

On the day that I got into Leavenworth, sometime in July, I
was interviewed for the first time in my life by a newspaper re-
porter, and the next morning I found my name in print as ** the
youngest Indian slayer on the plains." I am candid enough to
admit that I felt very much elated over this notoriety. Again
and again I read with eager interest the long and sensational ac-
count of our adventure. My exploit was related in a very
graphic manner, and for a long time afterwards I was considera-
ble of a hero. The reporter who had thus set me up, as I then

44 STORY OF THE WILD WEST»

thought, on the highest pinnacle of fame, was John Hutchinson,
and I felt very grateful to him. He now lives in Wichita,
Kansas.

ON THE KOAD TO SALT LAKE.

In the following summer Eussell, Majors & Waddell entered
upon a contract with the government for transporting supplies
for General Albert Sidney Johnston's army that was sent against
the Mormons. A large number of teams and teamsters were
required for this purpose, and as the route was considered a dan-
gerous one, men were not easily engaged for the service, though
the pay was forty dollars per month in gold. An old wagon mas-
ter named Lew Simpson, one of the best that ever commanded a
bull-train, was upon the point of starting with about ten wagons
for the company, direct for Salt Lake, and as he had known me
for some time as an ambitious youth, requested me to accompany
him as an extra hand. My duties would be light, and in fact I
would have nothing to do, unless some one of the drivers should
become sick, in which case I would be required to take his place.
But even more seductive than this inducement was the promise
that I should be provided with a mule of my own to ride, and be
subject to the orders of no one save Simpson himself.

The offer was made in such a manner that I became at once
wild to go, but my mother interposed an emphatic objection and
urged me to abandon so reckless a desire. She reminded me
that in addition to the fact that the trip would possibly occupy a
year, the journey was one of extreme peril, beset as it was by
Mormon assassins and treacherous Indians, and begged me to ac-
cept the lesson of my last experience and narrow escape as a
providential warning. But to her pleadings and remonstrances I
returned the answer that I had determined to follow the plains as
an occupation, and while I appreciated her advice and desired
greatly to honor her commands, yet I could not forego my deter-
mination to accompany the train.

Seeing that it was impossible to keep me at home, she reluc-
tantly gave her consent, but not until she had called upon Mr.
Russell and Mr. Simpson in regard to the matter, and had ob-

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

tained from the latter gentleman his promise that I should be well
taken care of, if we had to winter in the mountains. She did
not like the appearance of Simpson, and upon inquiry she learned,
to her dismay, that he was a desperate character, and that on
nearly every trip he had made across the plains he had killed
some one. Such a man, she thought, was not a fit master or
companion for her son, and she was very anxious to have me go
with some other wagon-master ; but I still insisted upon remain-
ing with Simpson.

ON THE OVERLAND TRAIL.

** Madam, I can assure you that Lew Simpson is one of the
most reliable wagon-masters on the plains,'* said Mr. Russell,
" and he has taken a great fancy to Billy. If your boy is bound
to go, he can go with no better man. No one will dare to im-
pose on him while he is with Lew Simpson, whom I will instruct
to take good care of the boy. Upon reaching Fort Laramie,
Billy can, if he wishes, exchange places with some fresh man
coming back on a returning train, and thus come home without
making the whole trip."

This seemed to satisfy mother, and then she had a long talk

46 STORY OF THE WILD WEST,

with Simpson himself, imploring him not to forget his promise
to take good care of her precious boy. He promised everything
that she asked. Thus, after much trouble, I became one of the
members of Simpson's train. Before taking our departure, I
arranged with Russell, Majors & Waddell that when my pay
fell due it should be paid over to mother.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BULL-TRAIN OUTFIT.

As a matter of interest to the general reader, it may be well
in this connection to give a brief description of a freight train.
The wagons used in those days by Russell, Majors & Waddell
were known as the ** J. Murphy wagons," made at St. Louis
specially for the plains business. They were very large and
were strongly built, being capable of carrying seven thousand
pounds of freight each. The wagon-boxes were very commodi-
ous— being about as large as the rooms of an ordinary house —
and were covered with two heavy canvas sheets to protect the
merchandise from the rain. These wagons were generally sent
out from Leavenworth, each loaded with six thousand pounds of
freight, and each drawn by several yokes of oxen in charge of
one driver. A train consisted of twenty-five wagons, all in charge
of one man, who was known as the wagon-master. The second
man in command was the assistant wagon-master ; then came the
** extra hand," next the night herder; and lastly, the cavallard
driver, whose duty it was to drive the lame and loose cattle.
There were thirty-one men all told in a train. The men did their
own cooking, being divided into messes of seven. One man
cooked, another brought wood and water, another stood guard,
and so on, each having some duty to perform while getting meals.
All were heavily armed with Colt's pistols and Mississippi ya-
gers, and every one always had his weapons handy so as to be
prepared for any emergency.

The wagon-master, in the language of the plains, was called
the ** bull-wagon boss; " the teamsters were known as '* bull-
whackers ; " and the whole train was denominated a '* bull-out-
fit." Everything at that time was called an '' outfit." The men

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 47

of the plains were always full of droll humor and exciting stories
of their own experiences, and many an hour I spent in listening
to the recitals of thrilling adventures and hair-breadth escapes*

THE TRAIL.

The trail to Salt Lake ran through Kansas northwestwardly,
crossing the Big Blue River, then over the Big and Little Sandy,
coming into Nebraska near the Big Sandy. The next stream of
any importance was the Little Blue, along which the trail ran for
sixty miles; then crossed a range of sand-hills, and struck the
Platte River ten miles below old Fort Kearney ; thence the course
lay up the South Platte to the old Ash Hollow Crossing, thence
eighteen miles across to the North Platte, near the mouth of the
Blue Water, where General Harney had his great battle in 1855
with the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians. From this point the
North Platte was followed, passing Court House Rock, Chimney
Rock and Scott's Bluffs, and then on to Fort Laramie, where the
Laramie River was crossed. Still following the North Platte for
some considerable distance, the trail crossed the river at old
Richard's Bridge, and followed it up to the celebrated Red
Buttes, crossing the Willow Creeks to the Sweet Water, passing
the great Independence Rock and the Devil's Gate, up to the
Three Crossings of the Sweet Water, thence past the Cold
Springs, where, three feet under the sod, on the hottest day of
summer, ice can be found; thence to the Hot Springs and the
Rocky Ridge, and through the Rocky Mountains and Echo Can-
on, and thence on to the great Salt Lake Valley.

In order to take care of the business which then offered, the
freight for transportation being almost exclusively government
provisions, Russell, Majors & Waddell operated 6,250 wagons,
for the hauling of which they used 75,000 oxen, and gave em-
ployment to 8,000 men; the capital invested by these three
freighters was nearly $2,000,000. In their operations, involving
such an immense sum of money, and employing a class of labor-
ers incomparably reckless, some very stringent rules were adopted
by the firm, to which all their employees were made to subscribe.

48 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

In this code of discipline was the following obligation : ** I,

do hereby solemnly swear, before the Great and Living God, that
during my engagement, and while I am in the employ of Eus-
sell. Majors & "Waddell, that I will under no circumstances use
profane language ; that I will drink no intoxicating liquors of
any kind ; that I will not quarrel or fight with any other employee
of the firm and that in every respect I will conduct myself hon-
estly, be faithful to my duties, and so direct all my acts as wih
will the confidence and esteem of my employers, so help me
God."

This oath was the creation of Mr. Majors, who was a very
pious and rigid disciplinarian; he tried hard to enforce it, but
how great was his failure it is needless to say. It would have
been equally profitable had the old gentleman read the riot act
to a herd of stampeded buffaloes. And he believes it himself
now.

A BUFFALO STAMPEDE.

Nothing transpired on the trip to delay or give us any trouble
whatever, until the train struck the South Platte River. One
day we camped on the same ground where the Indians had sur-
prised the cattle herd in charge of the McCarty brothers. It
was with difficulty that we discovered any traces of anybody ever
having camped there before, the only landmark being the single
grave, now covered with grass, in which we had buried the three
men who had been killed. The country was alive with buffaloes.
Vast herds of these monarchs of the plains were roaming all
around us, and we laid over one day for a grand hunt. Besides
killing quite a number of buffaloes and having a day of rare
sport, we captured ten or twelve head of cattle, they being a
portion of the herd which had been stampeded by the Indians
two months before. The next day we pulled out of camp, and
the train was strung out to a considerable length along the road
which ran near the foot of the sand-hills, two miles from the
river. Between the road and the river we saw a large herd of
buffaloes grazing quietly, they having been down to the stream
for a drink.

AUTOBIOQRAPHr OF BUFFALO BILL.

Just at this time we observed a party of returning Califor-
nians coming from the west. They, too, noticed the buffalo
herd, and in another moment they were dashing down upon them,
urging their steeds to the greatest speed. The buffalo herd
stampeded at once and broke down the hills ; so hotly were they
pursued by the hunters
that about five hundred
of them rushed through
our train pell-mell,
frightening both men
and oxen . Some of the
wagons were turned
clear round, and many
of the terrified oxen
attempted to run to the
hills, with the heavy i
wagons attached to
them. Others turned s^-
around so short that
they broke the wagon
tongues off. Nearly all
the teams got entangled
in their gearing, and
became wild and un-l
ruly, so that the per-
plexed drivers were ,
unable to manage them. I

The buffaloes, the
cattle and the drivers
were soon running in
every direction, and
the excitement upset nearly everybody and everything. Many
of the cattle broke their yokes and stampeded. One big buffalo
bull became entangled in one of the heavy wagon-chains, and it
is a fact that in his desperate efforts to free himself he not only
actually snapped the strong chain in two, but broke the ox-yoke

THE BUFFALO STAMPEDE.

50 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

to .which it was attached, and the last seen of him he was running
towards the hills with it hanging from his horns. A dozen other
equally remarkable incidents happened during the short time
that the frantic buffaloes were playing havoc with our train, and
when they got through and left us our outfit was badly crippled
and scattered. This caused us to go into camp and spend a day
in replacing the broken tongues and repairing other damages, and
gathering up our scattered ox-teams.

CAPTURED BY DANriES.

The next day we rolled out of camp and proceeded on our way
towards the setting sun. Everything ran along smoothly with
us from that point until we came within about eighteen miles of
Green Kiver, in the Eocky Mountains — where we camped at
noon. At this place we had to drive our cattle about a mile and
a half to a creek to water them. Simpson, his assistant George
Woods and myself, accompanied by the usual number of guards,
drove the cattle over to the creek, and while on our way back to
camp we suddenly observed a party of twenty horsemen rapidly
approaching us. We were not yet in view of our wagons, as a
rise of ground intervened, and therefore we could not signal the
train-men in case of any unexpected danger befalling us. We
had no suspicion, however, that we were about to be trapped, as
the strangers were white men. When they had come up to us,
one of the party, who evidently was the leader, rode out in front
and said : —

'* How are you, Mr. Simpson? "

*' You've got the best of me, sir," said Simpson, who did not
know him.

*' Well, I rather think I have," coolly replied the stranger,
whose words conveyed a double meaning, as we soon learned.
We had all come to a halt by this time and the strange horsemen
nad surrounded us. They were all armed with double-barreled
shot guns, rifles and revolvers. We also were armed with re-
volvers, but we had had no idea of danger, and these men, much
to our surprise, had ** got the drop ^* on us and had covered us

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 51

with their weapons, so that we were completely at their mercy.
The whole movement of corraling us was done so quietly and
quickly that it was accomplished before we knew it.

** I'll trouble you for your six shooters, gentlemen,'' now said
the leader.

** I'll give 'em to you in a way you don't want," replied
Simpson.

The next moment three guns were leveled at Simpson. '* If
you make a move you're a dead man," said the leader.

Simpson saw that he was taken at a great disadvantage, and
thinking it advisable not to risk the lives of the party by any rash
act on his part, he said; *< I see now that you have the best of
me, but who are you, anyhow?"

** I am Joe Smith," was the reply.

** Whatl the leader of the Danites?" asked Simpson.

** You are correct," said Smith, for he it was.

** Yes," said Simpson, ** I know you now; you are a spying
scoundrel."

Simpson had good reason for calling him this and applying to
him a much more opprobrious epithet, for only a short time be-
fore this, Joe Smith had visited our train in the disguise of a
teamster, and had remained with us two days. He suddenly dis-
appeared, no one knowing where he had gone or why he had
come among us. But it was all explained to us now that he had
returned with his Mormon Danites. After they had disarmed
us, Simpson asked, ** Well, Smith, what are you going to do
with us?"

*' Ride back with us and I'U soon show you," said Smith.

DESTRUCTION OF THE TRAIN BY M0R3I0NS.

We had no idea of the surprise which awaited us. As we came
upon the top of the ridge, from which we could view our
camp, we were astonished to see the remainder of the train-men
disarmed and stationed in a group and surrounded by another
squad of Danites, while other Mormons were searching our wag-
ons for such articles as they wanted.

52 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

'* How is this?*' inquired Simpson. «* How did you surprise
my camp without a struggle? I can't understand it."

** Easily enough," said Smith; *'your men were all asleep
under the wagons, except the cooks, who saw us coming and took
us for returning Calif ornians or emigrants, and paid no attention
to us until we rode up and surrounded your train. With our
arms covering the men, we woke them up, and told them all
they had to do was to walk out and drop their pistols — which
they saw was the best thing they could do under circumstances
over which they had no control — and you can just bet they
did it."

*'And what do you propose to do with us now?" asked Simp-
son.

** I intend to burn your train," said he; «* you are loaded with
supplies and ammunition for Sidney Johnston, and as I have no
way to convey the stuff to my own people, I'll see that it does
not reach the United States troops."

*'Are you going to turn us adrift here?" asked Simpson, who
was anxious to learn what was to become of himself and his men.

"No; I am hardly so bad as that. I'll give you enough pro
visions to last you until you can reach Fort Bridger," repliei
Smith ; *' and as soon as your cooks can get the stuff out of tie
wagons, you can start."

*' On foot?" was the laconic inquiry of Simpson.

*' Yes, sir," was the equally short reply.

" Smith, that's too rough on us men. Put yourself in our
place and see how you would like it," said Simpson; *« you can
well afford to give us at least one wagon and six yokes of oxen
to convey us and our clothing and provisions to Fort Bridger.
You're a brute if you don't do this."

'*Well," said Smith, after consulting a minute or two with
some of his company, ** I'll do that much for you."

The cattle and the wagon were brought up according to his
orders, and the clothing and provisions were loaded on.

** Now you can go," said Smith, after everything had been ar-
ranged.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 53

«* Joe Smith, I think you are a mean coward to set us afloat in
a hostile country without giving us our arms,*' said Simpson,
who had once before asked for the weapons, and had had his
request denied.

Smith, after further consultation with his comrades, said:
*< Simpson, you are too brave a man to be turned adrift here
without any means of defense. You shall have your revolvers and
guns." Our weapons were accordingly handed over to Simpson,
and we at once started for Fort Bridger, knowing that it would
be useless to attempt the recapture of our train.

When'we had traveled about two miles we saw the smoke aris-
ing from our old camp. The Mormons after taking what goods
they wanted and could carry off, had set fire to the wagons, many
of which were loaded with bacon, lard, hard-tack, and other pro-
visions, which made a very hot, fierce fire, and the smoke to roll
up in dense clouds. Some of the wagons were loaded with am-
munition, and it was not long before loud explosions followed in
rapid succession. We waited and witnessed the burning of the
train, and then pushed on to Fort Bridger. Arriving at this
post, we learned that two other trains had been captured and de-
stroyed in the same way, by the Mormons. This made seventy-
five wagon loads, or 450,000 pounds of supplies, mostly provis-
ions, which never reached General Johnston's command to which
they had been consigned.

ON THE POINT OF STARVATION.

After reaching the fort, it being far in November, we decided
to spend the winter there with about four hundred other em-
ployees of Russell, Majors & Waddell, rather than attempt a
return, which would have exposed us to many dangers and the
severity of the rapidly approaching winter. During this period
of hibernation, however, the larders of the commissary became
so depleted that we were placed on one- quarter rations, and at
length, as a final resort, the poor, dreadfully emaciated mules
and oxen were killed to afford sustenance for our famishing
party.

54 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

Fort Bridger being located in a prairie, all fuel there used had
to be carried for a distance of nearlj two miles, and after our
mules and oxen were butchered we had no other recourse than to
carry the wood on our backs or haul it on sleds, a very tedious
and laborious alternative.

Starvation was beginning to lurk about the post when spring
approached, and but for the timely arrival of a westward-bound
train loaded with provisions for Johnston's army some of our
party must certainly have fallen victims to deadly hunger.

The winter finally passed away, and early in the spring, as soon
as we could travel, the civil employees of the government, with
the teamsters and freighters, started for the Missouri River, the
Johnston expedition having been abandoned.

On the way down we stopped at Fort Laramie, and there met
a supply train bound westward. Of course we all had a square
meal once more, consisting of hard tack, bacon, coffee and beans.
I can honestly say that I thought it was the best meal I had ever
eaten ; at least I relished it more than any other, and I think the
rest of the party did the same.

On leaving Fort Laramie, Simpson was made brigade wagon-
master, and was put in charge of two large trains, with about four
hundred extra men, who were bound for Fort Leavenworth.
When we came to Ash Hollow, instead of taking the usual trail
over to the South Platte, Simpson concluded to follow the North
Platte down to its junction with the South Platte. The two
trains were traveling about fifteen miles apart, when one morn-
ing while Simpson was with the rear train, he told his assistant
wagon-master, George Woods and myself to saddle up our mules,
as he wanted us to go with him and overtake the head train.

ATTACKED BY INDIANS.

We started off at about eleven o'clock, and had ridden about
seven miles, when — while we were on a big plateau, back of
Cedar Bluffs — we suddenly discovered a band of Indians coming
out of the head of a ravine, half a mile distant, and charging
down upon us at full speed. I thought that our end had come this

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

time. Simpson, however, was equal to the occasion, for with
tvonderful promptness he jumped from hia jaded mule and in a
trice shot his own animal and ours also and ordered us to assist
him to jerk their bodies into a triangle. This being quickly done
we got inside the barricade of mule flesh and were prepared to
receive the Indians. We were each armed with a Mississippi
yager and two revolvers, and as the Indians came swooping down
on our improvised fort we opened fire with such good effect that
three fell dead to the first volley. This caused them to re-

HOLDING THE FORT.

treat out of range, as with two exceptions they were armed W7th
bows and arrows and therefore to approach near enough to do
execution would expose at least several of them to certain death.
Seeing that they could not take our little fortification, or drive
us from it, they circled around several times, shooting their
arrows at us. One of these struck George Wood in the left
shoulder, inflicting only a slight wound, however, and several
lodged in the bodies of the dead mules ; otherwise they did us no
harm. The Indians finally galloped off to a safe distance, where
our bullets could not reach theixbja»d seemed to be holding a coun-

56 STORY OF THE WILD WEST..

cil. This was a lucky move for us, for it gave us an opportunity
to reload our guns and pistols, and prepare for the next charge
of the enemy. During the brief cessation of hostilities, Simp-
son extracted the arrow from Wood's shoulder, and put an im-
mense quid of tobacco on the wound. Wood was then ready for
business again.

The Indians did not give us a very long rest, for with another
desperate charge, as if to ride over us, they came dashing towards
the mule barricade. We gave them a hot reception from our
yagers and revolvers. They could not stand or understand the
rapidly repeating fire of the revolver, and we checked them again.
They circled around once more and gave us a few parting
shots as they rode ofp, leaving behind them another dead Indian
and a horse.

For two hours afterwards they did not seem to be doing any-
thing but holding a council. We made good use of this time by
digging up the ground inside the barricade with our knives and
throwing the loose earth around and over the mules, and we soon
had a very respectable fortification. We were not troubled any
more that day, but during the night the cunning rascals tried to
burn us out by setting fire to the prairie. The buffalo grass was
so short that the fire did not trouble us much, but the smoke
concealed the Indians from our view, and they thought that they
could approach close to us without being seen. We were aware
of this and kept a sharp look-out, being prepared all the time to
receive them. They finally abandoned the idea of surprising us.

A TIMELY RESCUE.

Next morning, bright and early, they gave us one more grand
charge and again we '' stood them off.'* They then rode away
half a mile or so and formed a circle around us. Each man dis-
mounted and sat down, as if to wait and starve us out. They
had evidently seen the advance train pass on the morning of the
previous day, and believed that we belonged to that outfit and
were trying to overtake it ; they had no idea that another train
was on its way after us.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 57

Our hopes of escape from this unpleasant and perilous situation
now depended upon the arrival of the rear train, and when we
saw that the Indians were going to besiege us instead of renewing
their attacks, we felt rather confident of receiving timely assist-
ance. We had expected that the train would be along late in the
afternoon of the previous day, and as the morning wore away
we were somewhat anxious and uneasy at its non-arrival.

At last, about ten o'clock, we began to hear in the distance the
loud and sharp reports of the big bull- whips, which were handled
with great dexterity by the teamsters, and cracked like rifle
shots. These were as welcome sounds to us as were the notes
of the bag-pipes to the besieged garrison at Lucknow, when the
re-enforcements were coming up and the pipers were heard play-
ing, *' The Campbells are Coming." In a few moments we saw
the lead or head wagon coming slowly over the ridge, which had
concealed the train from our view, and soon the whole outfit
made its appearance. The Indians observed the approaching
train and assembling in a group they held a short consultation.
They then charged upon us once more, for the last time, and as
they turned and dashed away over the prairie we sent our fare-
well shots rattling after them. The teamsters, seeing the Indians
and hearing the shots, came rushing forward to our assistance,
but by the time they reached us the red-skins had almost disap-
peared from view. The teamsters eagerly asked us a hundred
questions concerning our fight, admired our fort and praised our
pluck. Simpson's remarkable presence of mind in planning the
defense was the general topic of conversation among all the men.

When the teams came up we obtained some water and bandages
with which to dress Wood's wound, which had become quite in-
flamed and painful, and we then put him into one of the wagons.
Simpson and myself obtained a remount, bade good-bye to our
dead mules which had served us so well, and after collecting the
ornaments and other plunder from the dead Indians, we left their
bodies and bones to bleach on the prairie. The train moved on
again and we had no other adventures except several exciting
buffalo hunts on the South Platte, near Plum Creek.

58 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

We arrived at Fort Leavenworth about the middle of July,
1858, when I immediately visited home. I found mother in very
poor health, as she was suffering from asthma. My oldest sister,
Martha, had, during my absence, been married to John Crane,
and was living at Leavenworth.

ENGAGE IN TRAPPING.

I had been home only about a month, after returning from
Fort Bridger, when I again started out with another train, going
this time as assistant wagon-master under Buck Bomer. We
went safely through to Fort Laramie, which was our destina-
tion, and from there we were ordered to take a load of supplies
to a new post called Fort Wallace, which was being established
at Cheyenne Pass. We made this trip and got back to Fort Lar-
amie about November 1st. I then quit the employ of Kussell,
Majors & Waddell, and joined a party of trappers who were
sent out by the post trader, Mr. Ward, to trap on the streams of
the Chugwater and Laramie for beaver, otter, and other fur an-
imals, and also to poison wolves for their pelts. We were out
two months, but as the expedition did not prove very profitable,
and was rather dangerous on account of the Indians, we
abandoned the enterprise and came into Fort Laramie in the lat-
ter part of December.

Being anxious to return to the Missouri River, I joined with
two others, named Scott and Charley, who were also desirous of
going East on a visit, bought three ponies and a pack-mule, and
we started out together. We made rapid progress on our jour-
ney, and nothing worthy of note happened until one afternoon,
along the banks of the Little Blue River, we spied a band of In-
dians hunting on the opposite side of the stream, three miles
away. We did not escape their notice, and they gave us a lively
chase for two hours, but they could find no good crossing, and as
evening came on we finally got away from them.

We traveled until late in the night, when upon discovering a
low, deep ravine which we thought would make a comfortable
and safe camping-place, we stopped for a rest. In searching

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 59

for a good place to make our beds, I found a hole, and called
to my companions that I had found a fine place for a nest. One
of the party was to stand guard while the others slept. Scott
took the first watch, while Charley and I prepared our
beds.

A HORRIBLE DISCOVERT.

While clearing out the place we felt something rough, but as
it was dark we could not make out what it was. At any rate we
concluded that it was bones or sticks of wood ; we thought per-
haps it might be the bones of some animal which had fallen in
there and died. These bones, for such they really proved to be,
we pushed one side and then we lay down. But Charley, being
an inveterate smoker, could not resist the temptation of indulg-
ing in a smoke before going to sleep. So he sat up and struck a
match to light his old pipe. Our subterranean bed-chamber was
thus illuminated for a moment or two ; I sprang to my feet in
an instant for a ghastly and horrifying sight was revealed to us.
Eight or ten human skeletons lay scattered upon the ground !

The light of the match died out, but we had seen enough to
convince us that we were in a large grave, into which, perhaps,
some unfortunate emigrants, who had been killed by the Indians,
had been thrown; or, probably, seeking refuge there, they had
been corraled and then killed on the spot. If such were the case
they had met the fate of thousands of others, whose friends have
never heard of them since they left their Eastern homes to seek
their fortunes in the far West. However, we did not care to in-
vestigate this mystery any further, but we hustled out of that
chamber of death and informed Scott of our discovery. Most of
the plainsmen are very superstitious, and we were no exception
to the general rule. We surely thought that this incident was
an evil omen, and that we would be killed if we remained there
any longer.

** Let us dig out of here quicker than we can say Jack Robin-
son," said Scott; and we began to '* dig out" at once. We
saddled our animals and hurriedly pushed forward through the
darkness, traveling several* miles before we again went into

60 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

camp. Next raorning it was snowing fiercely, but we proceeded
as best we could, and that night we succeeded in reaching Oak
Grove ranch which had been built during the summer. We here
obtained comfortable accommodations and plenty to eat and
drink — especially the latter.

Scott and Charley were great lovers and consumers of ** tan-
glefoot" and they soon got gloriously drunk, keeping it up for

AN INCIDENT OF THE BLOODT YEAR OF '82.

three days, during which time they gambled with the ranchmen,
who got away with all their money; but little they cared for
that, as they had their spree. They finally sobered up, and we
resumed our journey, urging our jaded animals as much as they
could stand, until we struck Marysville on the Big Blue. From
this place to Leavenworth we secured first-rate accommodations
along the road, as the country had bec/ome pretty well settled.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 61

It was in February, 1859, that I got home As there was now
a good school in the neighborhood, taught by Mr. Devinny, my
mother wished me to attend it, and I did so for two months and
a half — the longest period of schooling that I ever received at
any one time in my life. As soon as the spring came and the
grass began growing, I became uneasy and discontented, and
again longed for the free and open life of the plains.

OFF FOR pike's PEAK.

The Pike's Peak gold excitement was then at its height, and
everybody was rushing to the new gold diggings. I caught the
gold fever myself, and joined a party bound for the new town of
Auraria on Cherry Creek, afterwards called Denver, in honor of
the then Governor of Kansas. On arriving at Auraria we pushed
on to the gold streams in the mountains, passing up through
Golden Gate and over Guy Hill, and thence on to Black Hawk.
We prospected for two months, but as none of us knew anything
about mining we met with very poor success, and therefore con-
cluded that prospecting for gold was not our forte. We accordingly
abandoned the enterprise and turned our faces eastward once more.

When we struck the Platte Kiver, the happy thought of con-
structing a small raft — which would float us clear to the Mis-
souri and thence down to Leavenworth — entered our heads, and
we accordingly carried out the plan. Upon the completion of
the raft, we stocked it with provisions and *' set sail" down the
stream. It was a light craft and a jolly crew, and all was smooth
sailing for four or five days.

When we got near old Julesburg we met with a serious mis-
hap. Our raft ran into an eddy, and quick as lightning went to
pieces, throwing us all into the stream, which was so deep that we
had to swim ashore. We lost everything we had, which greatly
discouraged us, and we thereupon abandoned the idea of rafting
it any further. We then walked over to Julesburg, which was
only a few miles distant. This ranch, which became a somewhat
famous spot, had been established by **01d Jules," a French-
man, who was afterwards killed by the notorious Alf . Slade.

62 STORY OF THE WILD WEST,

A PONT EXPRESS RIDER.

The great pony express, about which so much has been said
and written, was at that time just being started. The line was
being stocked with horses and put into good running condition.
At Julesburg I met Mr. George Chrisman, the leading wagon-
master of Russell, Majors & Waddell^ who had always been a good
friend to me. He had bought out '< Old Jules," and was then
the owner of Julesburg ranch, and the agent of the pony express
line. He hired me at once as a pony express rider, but as I was
so young he thought I was not able to stand the fierce riding which
was required of the messengers. He knew, however, that I had
been raised in the saddle — that I felt more at home there than
in any other place — and as he saw that I was confident that I
could stand the racket, and could ride as far and endure it as well
as some of the old riders, he gave me a short route of forty-five
miles, with the stations fifteen miles apart, and three changes of
horses. I was required to make fifteen miles an hour, including
the changes of horses. I was fortunate in getting well broken
animals, and being so light, I easily made my forty-five miles on
time on my first trip out, and ever afterwards.

I wrote to mother and told her how well I liked the exciting
life of a pony express rider. She replied, and begged of me to
give it up, as it would surely kill me. She was right about this,
as fifteen miles an hour on horseback would, in a short time,
shake any man *« all to pieces;" and there were but very few,
if any, riders who could stand it for any great length of time.
Nevertheless, I stuck to it for two months, and then, upon re*
ceiving a letter informing me that my mother was very sick, I
gave it up and went back to the old home in Salt Creek Valley.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL,

CHAPTER m.

ACCIDENTS AND ESCAPES.

Y restless, roaming spirit would
not allow me to remain at home
very long, and in November,
after the recovery of my moth-
er, I went up the Republican
river and its tributaries on a
trapping expedition in company
with Dave Harrington. Our
outfit consisted of one wagon
and a yoke of oxen for the
transportation of provisions, traps and other necessaries. We
began trapping near Junction City, Kansas, and then proceeded
up the Republican River to the mouth of Prairie Dog Creek,
where we found plenty of beavers.

Having seen no signs of Indians thus far, we felt compara-
tively safe. We were catching a large number of beavers and
were prospering finely, when one of our oxen, having become
rather poor, slipped and fell upon the ice, dislocating his hip, so
that we had to shoot him to end his misery. This left us with-
out a team; but we cared little for that, however, as we had
made up our minds to remain there till spring, but it was decided
that one of us should go to the nearest settlement and get a yoke
of oxen with which to haul our wagon into some place of safety
where we could leave it.

We would probably have pulled through the winter all right
had it not been for a very serious accident which befell me just
at that time. Spying a herd of elk, we started in pursuit of
them, and creeping up towards them as slyly as possible, while
going around the bend of a sharp bluff or bank of the creek I
slipped and broke my leg just above the ankle. Notwithstanding

64 STORY OF THE TVILD WEST.

the great pain I was suffering, Harrington could not help laugh-
ing when I urged him to shoot me, as he had the ox, and thus
end my misery. He told me to ** brace up," and that he would
bring me out * * all right . * ' * * I am not much of a surgeon , ' * said he,
** but I can fix that leg of yours, even if I haven't got a diploma."

He succeeded in getting me back to camp, which was only a
few yards from the creek, and then he set the fracture as well as
he knew how and made me as comfortable as was possible under
the circumstances. We then discussed the situation, which, to
say the least, looked pretty blue. Knowing that, owing to our
mishaps, we could not do anything more that winter, and as I
dreaded the idea of lying there on my back with a broken leg for
weeks, and perhaps months, I prevailed upon Harrington to go to
the nearest settlement — about one hundred and twenty-five miles
distant — to obtain a yoke of cattle and then come back for me.

This he consented to do; but before leaving he gathered
plenty of wood, and as the ground was covered with snow, I
would have no difficulty in getting water if I had a fire. There
was plenty of fresh meat and other provisions in the ** dug-out,"
so that I had no fears of starvation. The ** dug-out," which
we had built immediately after we had determined to remain
there all winter, was a cosy hole in the ground, covered with
poles, grass and sod, with a fire-place in one end.

Harrington thought it would take him twenty days or more to
make the round trip; but being well provided for — for this
length of time — I urged him to go at once. Bidding me good-
bye, he started on foot. After his departure, each day, as it
came and went, seemed to grow longer to me as Hay there help-
less and alone. I made a note of each day, so as to know the
time when I might expect him back.

A DESPERATE SITUATION.

On the twelfth day after Harrington had left me I was awak-
ened from a sound sleep by some one touching me upon the
shoulder. I looked up and was astonished to see an Indian war-
rior standing at my side. His face was hideously daubed with
paint which told me more forcibly than words could have done

EAIN-IN-THE-FACE,
ACCREDITED SLAYER OF TOM CUSTER.

Photo by D. F. Barry.

iUTOBIOGRAPHT OP BUFFALO BILL. 65

that he was on the war-path. He spoke to me in broken English
and Sioux mixed, and I understood him to ask what I was doing
there, and how many there were with me.
By this time the little dug-out was nearly filled with other In-

CHEEP RAIN-IN-THE-FACE SAVES MY LIFE.

dians, who had been peeping in at the door, and I could hear
voices of still more outside as well as the stamping of horses. I
began to think that my time had come, as the saying is, when into
the cabin stepped an elderly Indian, whom I readily recognized
as old Rain-in-the-Face, a Sioux, chief from the vicinity of Fort

66 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

Laramie. I rose up as well as I could and showed him my broken
leg. I told him where I had seen him, and asked him if he re-
membered me. He replied that he knew me well, and that I
used to come to his lodge at Fort Laramie to visit him. I then
managed to make him understand that I was there alone and
having broken my leg, I had sent my partner off for a team to
take me away. T asked him if his young men intended to kill
me, and he answered that was what they had proposed to do,
but he would see what they had to say.

The Indians then talked among themselves for a few minutes,
and upon the conclusion of the consultation, old Eain-in-the-Face
turned to me and gave me to understand that as I was yet a
" papoose," or a very young man, they would not take my life.
But one of his men who had no fire-arms wanted my gun and
pistol. I implored old Rain-in-the-Face to be allowed to keep
the weapons, or at least one of them, as I needed something with
which to keep the wolves away. He replied that as his young
men were out on the war path, he had induced them to spare my
life ; but he could not prevent them from taking whatever else
they wanted.

They unsaddled their horses as if to remain there for some
time, and sure enough they stayed the remainder of the day and
all night. They built a fire in the dug-out and cooked a lot of
my provisions, helping themselves to everything as if they owned
it. However, they were polite enough to give me some of the
food after they had cooked it. It was a sumptuous feast that
they had, and they seemed to relish it as if it were the best lay-
out they had had for many a long day. They took all my sugar
and coffee, and left me only some meat and a small quantity of
flour, a little salt and some baking-powder. They also robbed
me of such cooking utensils as they wished; then bidding me
good-bye, early in the morning, they mounted their ponies and
rode off to the south, evidently bent on some murdering and
thieving expedition.

I was glad enough to see them leave, as my life had undoubt-
edly hung by a thread during their presence. I am confident that

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL, 67

had it not been for my youth and the timely recd'gnition and in-
terference of old Rain-in-the-Face they would have killed me
without any hesitation or ceremony.

The second day after the Indians left it began snowing, and for
three long and weary days the snow continued to fall thick and
fast. It blocked the door-way and covered the dug-out to the
depth of several feet, so that I became a snow-bound prisoner.
My wood was mostly under the enow, and it was with great diflS
culty that I could get enough to start a fire with. My prospects
were gloomy indeed. I had just faced death at the hands of the
Indians, and now I was in danger of losing my life from starva-
tion and cold. I knew that the heavy snow would surely delay
Harrington on his return ; and I feared that he might have per-
ished in the storm, or that some other accident might have be-
fallen him. Perhaps some wandering band of Indians had sur-
prised and killed him.

1 was continually thinking of all these possibilities, and I must
say that my outlook seemed desperate. At last the twentieth
day arrived — the day on which Harrington was to return — ^and
I counted the hours from morning till night, but the day passed
away with no signs of Harrington. The wolves made the night
hideous with their howls ; ihey gathered around the dug-out ; ran
over the roof; and pawed and scratched as if trying to get in.

Several days and nights thus wore away, the monotony all the
time becoming greater, until at last it became almost unendurable.
Some days I would go without any fire at all, and eat raw frozen
meat and melt snow in my mouth for water. I became almost
convinced that Harrington had been caught in the storm and had
been buried under the snow, or was lost. Many a time during
that dreary period of uncertainty I made up my mind that if I
ever got out of that place alive I would abandon the plains and
the life of a trapper forever. I had nearly given up all hopes of
leaving the dug-out alive.

A JOYOUS MEETING,

It was on the twenty-ninth day, while I was lying thus de-
spondently thinking and wondering, that I heard the cheerfui

68 8TORY OF THE WILD WEST

sound of Harrington's voice as he came slowly up the creek,
yelling, * ' whoa I haw ! ' ' to' his cattle. A criminal on the scaffold,
with the noose around his neck, the trap about to be sprung, and
receiving a pardon just at the last moment, thus giving him a
new lease of life, could not have been more grateful than I was
at that time. It was useless for me to try to force the door open ,
as the snow had completely blockaded it, and I therefore anx-
iously awaited Harrington's arrival.

" Hello I Billy 1" he sang out in a loud voice as he came up,
he evidently being uncertain as to my being alive.

*' All right, Dave," was my reply.

<« Well, old boy, you're alive, are you?" said he.

" Yes; and that's about all. I've had a tough siege of it since
you've been away, and I came pretty nearly passing in my chips.
I began to think you never would get here, as I was afraid you
had been snowed under," said I.

He soon cleared away the snow from the entrance and open-
inor the door he came in, I don't think there ever was a more
welcome visitor than he was. I remember that I was so glad to
see him that I put my arms around his neck and hugged him for
five minutes ; never shall I forget faithful Dave Harrington,

"Well, Billy, my boy, I hardly expected to see you alive
again," said Harrington, as soon as I had given him an oppor-
tunity to draw his breath; "I had a terrible trip of it, and 1
didn't think I ever would get through. I was caught in the snow-
storm, and was laid up for three days. The cattle wandered
away, and I came within an ace of losing them altogether. When
I got started again the snow was so deep that it prevented me
from making much headway. But as I had left you here I was
bound to come through, or die in the attempt."

Again I flung my arms around Dave's neck and gave him a
hug that would have done honor to a grizzly bear. My gratitude
was thus much more forcibly expressed than it could have been
by words. Harrington understood this, and seemed to appreciate
it. The tears of joy rolled down my cheeks, and it was impos*
sible for me to restrain them. When my life had been threatened

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF l>UFFALO BILL. 69

by the Indians I had not felt half so miserable as when 1 lay in
the dug-out thinking I was destined to die a slow death by star-
vation and cold. The Indians would have made short work of it,
and would have given me little or no time to think of my fate.

I questioned Harrington as to his trip, and learned all the de-
tails. He had passed through hardships which but few men
could have endured. Noble fellow, that he was. He had risked
his own life to save mine.

After he had finished his story, every word of which I had
listened to with eager interest, I related to him my own expe-
riences, in which he became no less interested. He expressed
great astonishment that the Indians had not killed me, and he
considered it one of the luckiest and most remarkable escapes he
had ever heard of. It amused me, however, to see him get very
angry when I told him that they had taken my gun and pistol
and had used up our provisions. *' But never mind, Billy," said
he, *« we can stand it till the snow goes off, which will not be
long, and then we will pull our wagon back to the settlements."

THE RETURN AND DEATH OF HARRINGTON.

A few days afterwards Harrington gathered up our traps, and
cleaned the snow out of the wagon. Covering it with the sheet
which we had used in the dug-out, he made a comfortable bed
inside, and helped me into it. We had been quite successful in
trapping, having caught three hundred beavers and one hundred
otters, the skins of which Harrington loaded on the wagon. We
then pulled out for the settlements, making good headway, as the
snow had nearly disappeared, having been blown or melted away ,
so that we had no difficulty in finding a road. On the eighth day
out we came to a farmer's house, or ranch, on the Eepublican
river, where we stopped and rested for two days, and then went
on to the ranch where Harrington had obtained the yoke of cat-
tle. We gave the owner of the team twenty-five beaver skins,
equal to $60, for the use of the cattle, and he let us have them
until we reached Junction City, sending his boy with us to bring
them back.

70 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

At Junction City we sold our wagon and furs and went with a
government mule train to Leavenworth — arriving there in March,
1860. I was just able to get around on crutches when I got into
Leavenworth, and it was several months after that before I en-
tirely recovered the use of my leg.

During the winter I had often talked to Harrington about my
mother and sisters, and had invited him to go home with me in
the spring. I now renewed the invitation, which he accepted,
and accompanied me home. When I related to mother my ad-
ventures and told her how Harrington had saved my life, she
thanked him again and again. I never saw a more grateful wom-
an than she was. She asked him to always make his home
with us, as she never could reward him sufficiently for what he
had done for her darling boy, as she called me. Harrington con-
cluded to remain with us through the summer and farm mother's
land. But alas 1 the uncertainty of life. The coming of death
when least expected was strikingly illustrated in his case. Dur-
ing the latter part of April he went to a nursery for some trees,
and while coming home late at night he caught a severe cold and
was taken seriously sick, with lung fever. Mother did everything
in her power for him. She could not have done more had he
been her own son, but notwithstanding her motherly care and
attention, and the skill of a physician from Leavenworth, he
rapidly grew worse. It seemed hard, indeed, to think that a
great strong man like Harrington, who had braved the storms
and endured the other hardships of the plains all winter long,
«ihould, during the warm and beautiful days of spring, when sur-
iviinded by friends and the comforts of a good home, be fatally
stricken down. But such was his fate. He died one week from
the day on which he was taken sick. We all mourned his loss as
we would that of a loved son or brother, as he was one of the
truest, bravest, and best of friends. Amid sorrow and tears we
laid him away to rest in a picturesque spot on Pilot Knob. His
death cast a gloom over our household, and it was a lon^ time
before it was entirely dispelled. I felt very lonely without Jtiai-
rington, and I soon wished for e chancre of scene again.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL«

CHAPTER IV.

ADVEinrURES ON THE OVERLAND BOAD.

the warm days of summer approached
I longed for the cool air of the moun-
tains ; and to the mountains I determined
to go. After engaging a man to take
care of the farm, I proceeded to Leaven-
worth and there met my old wagon-master
and friend, Lewis Simpson, who was
fitting out a train at Atchison and load-
ing it with supplies for the Overland
Stage Company, of which Mr. Eussell,
V'' my old employer, was one of the propri-

etors. Simpson was going with this train to Fort Laramie and
points further west.

" Come along with me, Billy," said he, ** I'll give you a good
lay-out. I want you with me."

'* I don't know that I would like to go so far west as that
again," I replied, «« but I do want to ride the pony express once
more; there's some life in that."

" Yes, that's so ; but it will soon shake the life out of you,''
said he. '* However, if that's what you've got your mind set
on, you had better come to Atchison with me and see Mr. Rus'
sell, who I'm pretty certain will give you a situation."

I replied that I would do that. I then went home and in-
formed mother of my intention, and as her health was very poor
I had great difficulty in obtaining her consent. I finally con-
vinced her that as I was of no use on the farm, it would b6 bet-
ter and more profitable for me to return to the plains. So after
giving her all the money I had earned by trapping, I bade her
good-bye and set out for Atchison.

I met Mr. Russeil there and asked him for employment as a
pony express-rider; he gave me a letter to Mr. Slade, who was

72 STORY OP THE WILD WEST.

then the stage agent for the division extending from Jules^
burg to Rocky Ridge. Slade had his headquarters at Horseshoe
Station, thirty-six miles west of Fort Laramie, and I made the trip
thither in company with Simpson and his train.

Almost the very first person I saw after dismounting from my
horse was Slade. I walked up to hin? and presented Mr. Rus-
sell's letter, which he hastily opened and read. With a sweeping
glance of his eye he took my measure from head to foot, and
then said : —

** My boy, you are too young for a pony express-rider. It
takes men for that business."

**I rode two months last year on Bill Trotter's division, sir,
and filled the bill then; and I think I am better able to ride
now," said I.

"What! are you the boy that was riding there, and was called
the youngest rider on the road?"

«* I am the same boy," I replied, confident that everything
was now all right for me.

** I have heard of you before. You are a year or so older now,
and I think you can stand it. I'll give you a trial anyhow and
if you weaken you can come back to Horse Shoe Station and tend
stock."

That ended our first interview. The next day he assigned me
to duty on the road from Red Buttes on the North Platte, to the
Three Crossings of the Sweetwater — a distance of seventy-six
miles — and I began riding at once. It was a long piece of road,
but I was equal to the undertaking; and soon afterwards had an
opportunity to exhibit my power of endurance as a pony express-
rider.

One day when I galloped into Three Crossings, my home sta-
tion, I found that the rider who was expected to take the trip
out on my arrival, had gotten into a drunken row the night be-
fore and been killed. This left that division without a rider and
as it was very difficult to engage men for the service in that un-
inhabited region, the superintendent requested me to make the
trip until another rider could be secured. The distance to the

AUTOBIOGKAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 73

next station, Rocky Ridge, was eighty-five miles and through a
very bad and dangerous country, but the emergency was great
and I concluded to try it. I therefore started promptly from
Three Crossings without more than a moment's rest and pushed on
with usual rapidity, entering every relay station on time and ac-
complishing the round trip of three hundred and twenty-two miles
back to Red Buttes without a single mishap and on time. This
stands on the records as being the longest pony express journey
ever made.

PURSUED BY INDIANS.

A week after making this trip, and while passing over the
route again, I was jumped by a band of Sioux Indians who
dashed out from a sand ravine nine miles west of Horse creek.
They were armed with pistols and gave me a close call with several
bullets, but it fortunately happened that I was mounted on the
fleetest horse belonging to the Express Company, and one that
was possessed of remarkable endurance. Being cut off from re-
treat back to Horse Shoe, I put spurs to my horse, and lying flat
on his back, kept straight for Sweetwater, the next station,
which I reached without accident, having distanced my pursuers.
Upon reaching that place, however, I found a sorry condition of
affairs, as the Indians had made a raid on the station the morn-
ing of my adventure with them, and after killing the stock-tender
had driven off all the horses, so that I was unable to get a re-
mount. I therefore continued onto Ploutz's Station — twelve
miles further — thus making twenty- four miles straight run with
one horse. I told the people at Ploutz's what had happened a'i.
Sweetwater Bridge, and with a fresh horse went on and finished
\he trip without any further adventure.

ATTACK ON A STAGE COACH.

About the middle of September the Indians became very
troublesome on the line of the stage road along the Sweetwater.
Between Split Rock and Three Crossings they robbed a stage,
killed the driver and two passengers, and badly wounded Lieut.
Flowers, the assistant division agent. The red-skinned thievea

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

also drove off the stock from the different stations, and were
continually lying in wait for the passing stages and pony express

riders, so that we had to take many desperate chances in running
the gauntlet.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 75

The Indians had now become so bad and had stolen so much
stock that it was decided to stop the pony express for at least six
weeks, and to run the stages only occasionally during that period ;
in fact, it would have been almost impossible to have continued
the enterprise much longer without restocking the line.

While we were thus nearly all lying idle, a party was organized
to go out and search for stolen stock. This party was composed
of stage-drivers, express-riders, stock-tenders, and ranchmen —
forty of them altogether — and they were w^ell-armed and well-
mounted. They w^ere mostly men who had undergone all kinds
of hardships and braved every danger, and they were ready and
anxious to ** tackle" any number of Indians. Wild Bill (who
had been driving stage on the road and had recently come down
to our division) was elected captain of the company.

It was supposed that the stolen stock had been taken to the
head of Powder river and vicinity, and the party, of which I was
a member, started out for that section in high hopes of success.

Twenty miles out from Sweetwater Bridge, at the head of
Horse creek, we found an Indian trail running north towards
Powder river, and we could see by the tracks that most of the
horses had been recently shod and were undoubtedly our stolen
stage-stock. Pushing rapidly forward, we followed this trail to
Powder river ; thence down this stream to within about forty
miles of the spot where old Fort Keno now stands. Here the
trail took a more westerly course along the foot of the mountains,
leading eventually to Crazy Woman's fork — a tributary of
Powder river. At this point we discovered that the party whom
we were trailing had been joined by another band of Indians, and,
judging from the fresh appearance of the trail, the united body
could not have left this spot more than twenty- lour hours before.

A CHARGE THROUGH THE INDIAN CAMP.

Being aware that we were now in the heart of the hostile coun-
try and might at any moment find more Indians than we had
** lost," we advanced with more caution than Usual and kept a
sharp lookout. As we were approaching Clear creek, another

76 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

tributary of Powder river, we discovered Indians on the opposite
side of the creek, some three miles distant ; at least we saw horses
grazing which was a sure sign that there were Indians there.

The Indians thinking themselves in comparative safety — never
before having been followed so far into their own country by
white men — had neglected to put out any scouts. They had no
idea that there were any white men in that part of the country.
Wq got the lay of their camp, and then held a council to consider
and mature a plan for capturing it. We knew full well that the
Indians would outnumber us at least three to one, and perhaps
more. Upon the advice and suggestion of Wild Bill, it was
finally decided that we should wait until it was nearly dark, and
then, after creeping as close to them as possible, make a dash
through their camp, open a general fire on them, and then stam-
pede the horses.

This plan, at the proper time, was most successfully executed.
The dash upon the enemy was a complete surprise to them.
They were so overcome with astonishment that they did not know
what to make of it. We could not have astounded them any more
had we dropped down into their camp from the clouds. They did
not recover from the surprise of this sudden charge until after
we had ridden pell-mell through their camp and got away with
our own horses as well as theirs. We at once circled the horses
around towards the south, and after getting them on the south
side of Clear creek, some twenty of our men — just as the dark-
ness was coming on — rode back and gave the Indians a few part-
ing shots. We then took up our line of march for Sweetwater
Bridge, where we arrived four days afterwards with all our own
horses and about one hundred captured Indian ponies.

A GENERAL DRUNK BUT ONLY ONE MURDER.

The expedition had proved a gi'and success, and the event was
celebrated in the usual manner — by a grand spree. The only
store at Sweetwater Bridge did a rushing business for several
days. The returned stock -hunters drank and gambled and
fought. The Indian ponies, which had been distributed among

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 77

the captors, passed from hand to hand at almost every deal of
the cards. There seemed to be no limit to the rioting and ca-
rousing; revelry reigned supreme. On the third day of the
orgie, Slade, who had heard the news, came up to the bridge and
took a hand in the ** fun,'' as it was called. To add some varia-
tion and excitement to the occasion, Slade got into a quarrel with
a stage-driver and shot him, killing him almost instantly.

The **boys" became so elated as well as ** elevated'' over
their success aojainst the Indians that most of them were in favor
of going back and cleaning out the whole Indian race. One old
driver especially, Dan Smith, was eager to open a war on all the
hostile nations, and had the drinking been continued another
week he certainly would have undertaken the job, single-handed
and alone. The spree finally came to an end; the men sobered
down and abandoned the idea of a^ain invadinoc the hostile coun-
try. The recovered horses were replaced on the road and the
stages and pony express again began running on time.

Slade, having taken a great fancy to me, said: ** Billy, I want
you to come down to my headquarters, and I'll make you a sort
of supernumerary rider, and send you out only when it is neces-
sary."

A HUNT FOR BEAR.

I accepted the offer and went with him down to Horseshoe,
where I had a comparatively easy time of it. I had always been
fond of hunting, and I now had a good opportunity to gratify
my ambition in that direction, as I had plenty of spare time on
my hands. In this connection I will relate one of my bear-hunt-
ing adventures. One day, when I had nothing else to do, I
saddled up an extra pony express horse, and arming myself with
a good rifle and pair of revolvers, struck out for the foot-hills of
Laramie Peak for a bear-hunt. Riding carelessly along, and
breathing the cool and bracijig autumn air which came down from
the mountains, I felt as only a man can feel who is roaming over
the prairies of the far West, well armed and mounted on a fleet
and gallant steed. The perfect freedom which he enjoyn is in
itself a refreshing stimulant to the mind as well as to th€ body.

78 STORY or THE WIL1> WEST.

Such indeed were my feelings on this beautiful day as J rode up
the valley of the Horseshoe, Occasionally I scared up a flock
of sage-hens or a jack-rabbit. Antelopes and deer were aln^ost
always in sight in any direction, but as they were not tb3 kind
of game I was after on that day I passed them by and k 3pt on
towards the hio-her mountains. The further I rode the rouQjher
and wilder became the country, and I knew that I was approach-
ing the haunts of the bear. I did not discover any, however,
although I saw plenty of tracks in the snow.

About two o'clock in the afternoon, my horse having become
tired, and myself being rather weary, I shot a sage-hen and, dis-
mounting, I unsaddled my horse and tied him to a small tree,
where he could easily feed on the mountain grass. I then built
a little fire, and broiling the chicken and seasoning it with salt
and pepper, which I had obtained from my saddle-bags, I soon
sat down to a " genuine square meal,'' which I greatly relished.

After resting for a couple of hours, I remounted and resumed
my upward trip to the mountain, having made up my mind to
camp out that night rather than go back without a bear, which
my friends knew I had gone out for. As the days were growing
short, night soon came on, and I looked around for a suitable
camping place. While thus engaged, I scared up a flock of sage-
hens, two of which I shot, intending to have one for supper and
the other for breakfast.

By this time it was becoming quite dark, and I rode down to
one of the little mountain streams, where I found an open place
in the timber suitable for a camp. I dismounted, and after un-
saddling my horse and hitching him to a tree, I prepared to start
a fire. Just then I was startled by hearing a horse whinnying
further up the stream. It was quite a surprise to me, and I im-
mediately ran to my animal to keep him from answering, as
horses usually do in such cases. I thought that the strange horse
might belong to some roaming band of Indians, as I knew of no
white men being in that portion of the country at that time. I
was certain that the owner of the strange horse could not be fai
distant, and I was very anxious to find out who my neighbor was,

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFADvi BILL. 79

before letting him know that I was in his vicinity. I therefore
re-saddled my horse, and leaving him tied so that I could easily
reach him I took my gun and started out on a scouting expedition
up the stream. I had gone about four hundred yards when, in
a bend of the stream, I discovered ten or fifteen horses grazing.

A ROBBERS* HAUNT DISCOVERED.

On the opposite side of the creek, a light was shining high up
the mountain bank. Approaching the mysterious spot as cau-
tiously as possible, and when within a few yards of the light —
which I discovered came from a dug-out in the mountain side —
I heard voices, and soon I was able to distinguish the words, as
they proved to be in my own language. Then I knew that the
occupants of the dug-out, whence the voices proceeded, were
white men. Thinking that they might be a party of trappers, I
boldly walked up to the door and knocked for admission. The
voices instantly ceased, and for a moment a death-like silence
reigned inside. Then there seemed to follow a kind of hurried
whispering — a sort of consultation — and then some one called
out: —

** Who's there?"

** A friend and a white man," I replied.

The door opened, and a big, ugly-looking fellow stepped forth
and said : —

*'Come in."

I accepted the invitation with some degree of fear and hesita-
tion, which I endeavored to conceal, as I saw that it was too late
to back out, and that it would never do to weaken at that point,
whether they were friends or foes. Upon entering the dug-out
Day eyes fell upon eight as rough and villainous looking men as I
ever saw in my life. Two of them I instantly recognized as
teamsters who had been driving in Lew Simpson's train, a few
months before, and had been discharged.

I They were charged with the murdering and robbing of a ranch-
man ; and having stolen his horses it was supposed that they had
left the couotry* I gave them ^o signs of recogmtion however,

80 STORY OF THE WILD WEST

deeming it advisable to let them remain in ignorance as to who 1
was. It was a hard crowd, and I concluded that the sooner 1
could get away from them the better it would be for me. I felt
confident that they were a band of horse-thieves.

** Where are you going, young man; and who's with you?'*
asked one of the men who appeared to be the leader of the gang.

*« I am entirely alone. I left Horseshoe Station this morning
for a bear-hunt, and not finding any bears, I had determined to
camp out for the night and wait till morning," said I ; " and just
as I was going into camp, a few hundred yards down the creek
I heard one of your horses whinnying, and then I came to your
camp."

I was thus explicit in my statement in order, if possible, to
satisfy the cut-throats that I was not spying upon them, but that
my intrusion was entirely accidental.

'* Where's your horse? " demanded the boss thief.

*« I left him down the creek," I answered.

IN A TIGHT PLACE.

They proposed going after the horse, but I thought that that
would never do, as it would leave me without any means oi
escape, and I accordingly said, in hopes to throw them ofp the
track, ** Captain, I'll leave my gun here and go down and get
my horse, and come back and stay all night."

I said this in as cheerful and as careless a manner as possible, so
as not to arouse their suspicions in any way or lead them to
think that I was aware of their true character. I hated to part
with my gun, but my suggestion of leaving it was a part of the
plan of escape which I had arranged. If they have the gun,
thought I, they will surel}^ believe that I intend to come back.
But this little game did not work at all, as one of the despera-
does spoke up and said: —

** Jim and I will go down with you after your horse, and you
can leave your gun here all the same, as you'U not need it."

'* All right," I replied, for I could certainly have said nothing
else. It became evident to me that it would be better to trust

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 81

myself with two men than with the whole party. It was appa-
rent from this time on I would have to be on the alert for some
good opportunity to give them the slip.

* « Come along," said one of them, and together we went down the
creek, and soon came to the spot where my horse was tied. One
of the men unhitched the animal and said : "I'll lead the horse."

** Very well," said I, " I've got a couple of sage-hens here.
Lead on." '

I picked up the sage-hens, which I had killed a few hours be-
fore, and followed the man who was leading the horse, while his
companion brought up the rear. The nearer we approached the
dug-out the more I dreaded the idea of going back among the
villainous cut-throats. My first plan of escape having failed, I
now determined upon another. I had both of my revolvers with
me, the thieves not having thought it necessary to search me. It
was now quite dark, and I purposely dropped one of the sage-hens,
and asked the man behind me to pick it up. While he was hunt-
ing for it on the ground, I quickly pulled out one of my Colt's
revolvers and struck him a tremendous blow on the back of the
head, knocking him senseless to the ground. I then instantly
wheeled around, and saw that the man ahead,who was only a few
feet distant, had heard the blow and had turned to see What was
the matter, his hand upon his revolver. We faced each other at
about the same instant, but before he could fire, as he tried to do,
I shot him dead in his tracks. Then jumping on my horse, I rode
down the creek as fast as possible, through the darkness and over
the rough ground and rocks.

The other outlaws in the dug-out, having heard the shot which
I had fired, knew there was trouble, and they all came rushing
down the creek. I suppose by the time they reached the man
whom I had knocked down, that he had recovered and hurriedly
told them of what had happened. They did not stay with the
man whom I had shot, but came on in hot pursuit of me. They
were not mounted, and were making better time down the rough
mountain than I was on horseback. From time to time I heard
them gradually gaining on me.

82 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

At last they had come so near that I saw that I must abandon
my horse. So 1 jumped to the ground, and gave him a hard
diap with the butt of one of my revolvers, which started him on
down the vaHey, while I 8Cramb]ed up the mountain side. I had
not ascended more than forty feet when I heard my pursuers
coming closer and closer ; I quickly hid behind a a large pine
tree, and in a few moments they all nisbed by me, being led on by
the rattling footsteps of my horse, which they heard ahead of

A HEROIC REMEDY FOR A DESPERATE SITUATION.

them. Soon they began firing in the direction of the horse, as they
no doubt supposed I was still seated on his back. As soon as
they had passed me I climbed further up the steep mountain,
and knowing that I had given them the slip, and feeling certain
I could keep out of their way, I at once struck out for Horse-
shoe Station, which was twenty-five miles distant. I had hard
traveling at first but upon reaching lower and better ground I
made good headway, walking all night and getting into the station
just before daylight, — foot-sore, weary, and generally played out.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 83

I immediately waked up the men of the station and told them
of my adventure. Slade himself happened to be there, and he
at once organized a party to go out in pursuit of the horse thieves.
Shortly after daylight twenty well armed stage-drivers, stock-
tenders and ranchmen were galloping in the direction of the dug-
out. Of course I went along with the party, notwithstanding I
was very tired and had had hardly any rest at all. We had a
brisk ride, and arrived in the immediate vicinity of the thieves'
rendezvous at about ten o'clock in the morning. We approached
the dug-out cautiously, but upon getting in close proximity to it we
could discover no horses in sight. We could see the door of the
dug-out standing wide open, and we then marched up to the
place. No one was inside and the general appearance of every-
thing indicated that the place had been deserted — that the birds
had flown. Such, indeed, proved to be the case.

We found a new-made grave, where they had evidently buried
the man whom I had shot. We made a thorough search of the
whole vicinity, and finally found their trail going southeast in
the direction of Denver. As it woidd have been useless to follow
them, we rode back to the station ; and thus ended my eventful
bear-hunt. We had no more trouble for some time from horse-
thieves after that.

During the winter of 1860 and the spring of 1861 I remained
at Horseshoe, occasionaliy riding pony express and taking care of
stock, but meeting with no adventure worthy to be recorded.

STOBY OF THE WILD WEST.

CHAPTER V.

AN INGLORIOUS SERVICE,

OLLO WING the breaking out of the gi eat
Civil War in 1861, a general desertion of
stage-drivers and express riders took place,
a majority of whom were natural rovers,
and always looking out for change of em-
ployment. I was not an exception, and as
it had now been nearly a year since I saw
my mother, while reports of her ill health
frequently reached me, I decided to pay
her a visit, and at the same time deter-
mine, if government service promised better
pay and more excitement than I had been
getting out of my engagement with the ex-
press company, to join the army. In pur-
suance of this resolve I went to Leavenworth, which was at that
time an important outfitting post for the West and Southwest.

While in the city one day I met several of the old, as well as
the young men, who had been members of the Free State party
all through the Kansas troubles, and who had, like our family,
lost everything at the hands of the Missourians. They now
thought a good opportunity offered to retaliate and get even with
their persecutors, as they were all considered to be Secessionists.
That they were all Secessionists, however, was not true, as all of
them did not sympathize with the South. But the Free State
men, myself among them, took it for granted that as Missouri
was a slave State the inhabitants must all be Secessionists, and
therefore our enemies, A man by the name of Chandler pro-
posed that we organize an independent company for the pur-
pose of invading Missouri and making war on its people on our
own responsibility. He at once went about it in a very quiet

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP BUFFALO BILL. 85

way, and succeed in inducing twenty-five men to join him in the
hazardous enterprise. Having a longing and revengeful desire to
retaliate upon the Missourians for the brutal manner in which
they had treated and robbed my family, I became a member of
Chandler's company. His plan was that we should leave our
homes in parties of not more than two or three together, and
meet at a certain point near Westport, Missouri, on a fixed day.
His instructions were carried out, and we assembled at the
rendezvous at the appointed time. Chandler had been there some
days before us and, thoroughly disguised, had been looking
around the country for the whereabouts of all the best horses.
He directed us to secretly visit certain farms and collect all the
horses possible, and bring them together the next night. This
we did, and upon reassembling it was found that nearly every
man had two horses. We immediately struck out for the Kansas
line, which we crossed at the Indian ferry on the Kansas River,
above Wyandotte, and as soon as we had set foot upon Kansas
soil we separated with the understanding that we were to meet
one week from that day at Leavenworth.

Some of the parties boldly took their confiscated horses into
Leavenworth, while others rode them to their homes. This
action may look to the reader like horse-stealing, and some people
might not hesitate to call it by that name; but Chandler plausibly
maintained that ^ve were only getting back our own, or the
equivalent, from the Missourians, and as the government was
waging war against the South, it was perfectly square and honest,
and we had a good right to do it. So we didn't let our con-
sciences trouble us very much.

We continued to make similar raids upon the Missourians of?
and on during the summer, and occasionally we had running
fights with them; none of the skirmishes, however, amounting to
much . The government officials hearing of our operations , put de-
tectives upon our track, and several of the party were arrested.
My mother, upon learning that I was engaged in this business,
told me it was neither u "norable nor right, and she would not
for a moment countenance any such proceedings. Consequently
I abandoned the jay-hawking enterprise, for such it really was.

86 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

After abandoning the enterprise of crippling the Confederacy
by appropriating the horses of non-combatants, I went to
Leavenworth, where I met my old friend, Wild Bill, who was on
the point of departing for Rolla, Mo., to assume the position of
wagon master of a government train. At his request to join him
as an assistant I cheerfully accompanied him to Rolla, where we
loaded a number of wagons with government freight and drove
them to Springfield.

BUSTED AT A HORSE-RACE.

On our return to Rolla we heard a great deal of talk about the
approaching fall races at St. Louis, and Wild Bill having brought
a fast running horse from the mountains, determined to take him
to that city and match him against some of the high-flyers there ;
and down to St. Louis we went with this running horse, placing
our hopes very high on him.

Wild Bill had no difficulty in making up a race for him. All
the money that he and I had we put up on the mountain runner,
and as we thought we had a sure thing, we also bet the horse
against $250. I rode the horse myself, but nevertheless, our
sure thing, like many another sure thing, proved a total failure,
and we came out of that race minus the horse and every dollar
we had in the world.

Before the race it had been '' make or break "with us, and we
got * ' broke . " We were * ' busted ' ' in the largest city we had ever
been in, and it is no exaggeration to say that we felt mighty blue.

On the morning after the race we went to the military head-
quarters, where Bill succeeded in securing an engagement for
liimself as a government scout, but I being so young failed in
obtaining similar employment. Wild Bill, however, raised some
money, by borrowing it from a friend, and then buying me a
steamboat ticket he sent me back to Leavenworth, while he went
to Springfield, which place he made his headquarters while scout-
ing in Southeastern Missouri.

A DUEL IN THE S'^iiEET.

One night, after he had returned from a scouting expedition,
he took a hand in a game of poker, and in the course of the play

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFl«ALO BILL.

he became involved in a quarrel with Dave Tutt, a professional
gambler, about a watch which he had won from Tutt, but who
would not give it up.

Bill told him he had won it fairly, and that he proposed to have
it; furthermore, he declared his intention of carrying the watch
across the street next morning to military headquarters, at which
place he had to report at nine
o'clock. To which boast Tutt
replied that he would himself
carry the watch across the street
at nine o'clock, and no other man
would do it.

**If you make the attempt
one of us will have to die at the
hour named," w^as the answer
Bill returned, and then walked
carelessly away.

A challenge to a duel had vir-
tually been given and accepted?
and everybody knew that the two
men meant business. At nine
o'clock the next morning, Tutt
started to cross the street. Wild
Bill, who was standing on the
opposite side, told him to stop.
At that moment Tutt, who was ^^^ ^^^i^'s ^^^^ ^^th da ve tutt.
carrying his revolver in his hand, fired at Bill but missed him.
Bill quickly pulled out his revolver and returned the fire, hitting
Tutt squarely in the forehead and killing him instantly.

Quite a number of Tutt's friends were standing in the vicin-
ity, having assembled to witness the duel, and Bill, as soon as
Tutt fell to the ground, turned to them r,nd asked if any one of
them wanted to take it up for Tutt ; if so, he would accommo-
date any of them then and there. But none of them cared to
stand in front of Wild Bill to be shot at by him. Nothing of
course was ever done to Bill for the killing of Tutt,

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

CHAPTER VL

HOW I BECAMK A SOLDIER.

ARLY in the fall of 1861 1 made a trip
to Fort Larned, Kansas, carrying mili-
tary dispatches, and in the winter 1
accompanied George Long through the
country, and assisted him in buying
horses for the government.

The next spring, 1862, an expedition
against the Indians was organized,
consisting of a volunteer regiment,
the Ninth Kansas under Colonel Clark.
This expedition, which I had joined in
the capacity of guide and scout, pro-
ceeded to the Kiowa and Comanche
country, on the Arkansas river,
along which stream we scouted all summer between Fort Lyon
and Fort Larned, on the old Santa Fe trail. We had several en-
gagements with the Indians, but they were of no great import-
ance.

In the winter of 1862, I became one of the **Red Legged
Scouts," — a company of scouts commanded by Captain Tuff.
Amons: its members were some of the most noted Kansas Ran-
gers, such as Red Clark, the St. Clair brothers. Jack Harvey, an
old pony express-rider named Johnny Fry, and many other well
known frontiersmen. Our field of operations was confined
mostly to the Arkansas country and Southwestern Missouri. We
had many a lively skirmish with the bushwhackers and Younger
brothers, and when we were not hunting them, we were generally
employed in carrying dispatches between Forts Dodge, Gibson,
Leavenworth and other posts. Whenever we were in Leaven-
worth we had a very festive time. We usually attended all the

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 89

balls in full force, and ** ran things'* to suit ourselves. Thus I
passed the winter of 1862 and the spring of 1863.

Subsequently I engaged to conduct a small train to Denver for
some merchants, and on reaching that place in September, I re-
ceived a letter stating that my mother was not expected to live.
I hastened home, and found her dangerously ill. She grew grad-
ually worse, and at last, on the 22d of November, 1863, she died.
Thus passed away a loving and affectionate mother and a noble,
brave, good and loyal woman.

Previous to this sad event my sister Julia had been married to
a gentleman named J. A. Goodman, and they now came to reside
at our house and take charge of the children, as my mother had
desired that they should not be separated. Mr. Goodman became
the guardian of the minor children.

WITH THE JAY-HAWKERS.

I soon left the home now rendered gloomy by the absence of
hei whom I bad so tenderly loved and going to Leavenworth I
entered upon a dissolute and reckless life — to my shame be it
said — and associated with gamblers, drunkards, and bad charac-
ters generally. I continued my dissipation about two months,
and was becoming a very *' hard case." About this time the Sev-
enth Kansas regiment, known as **Jennison*s Jay-hawkers,"
returned from the war, and re-enlisted and re- organized as veter-
ans. Among them I met quite a number of my old comrades
and neighbors, who tried to induce me to enlist and go South
with them. I had no idea of doing anything of the kind ; but
one day, after having been under the influence of bad whisky, I
awoke to find myself a soldier in the Seventh Kansas. I did not
remember how or when I had enlisted, but I saw I was in for it,
and that it would not do for me to endeavor to back out. |

In the spring of 1864 the regiment was ordered to Tennessee,
and we got into Memphis just about the time that General Stur-
gis was so badly whipped by General Forrest. General A. J.
Smith re-organized the army to operate against Forrest, and after
marching to Tupalo, MississipDi,js:e bad an engagement with him

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

and defeated him. This kind of fighting was all new to me, be-
ing entirely different from any in which I had ever before en-
gaged. I soon became a non-commissioned officer, and was put
on detached service as a scout.

After skirmishing around the country with the rest of the

army for some little
time, our regiment
returned to Memphis,
but was immediately
ordered to Cape Girar-
deau, in Missouri, as a
Confederate force under
General Price was then
raiding that State. The
command of which my
regiment was a part
hurried to the front to in
WILD BILL. tercept Price, and our first

fight with him occurred at Pilot Knob. From that time for
nearly six weeks we fought or skirmished every day.

A SINGULAR IHEETING WITH WILD BILL.

I was still acting as a scout, when one day I rode ahead of the
command, some considerable distance, to pick up all possible in-
formation concerning Price's movements. I was dressed in
gray clothes, or Missouri jeans, and on riding up to a farmhouse
and entering I saw a man, also dressed in gray costume, sitting
at a table eating bread and milk. He looked up as I entered, and
startled me by saying: —

**You little rascal, what are you doing in those *secesh'
clothes?'* Judge of my surprise when I 'recognized in the
stranger my old friend and partner, Wild Bill, disguised as a Con-
federate officer.

** 1 ask you the same question, sir," said I, without the least
hesitation.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF. BUFFALO BILL. 91

**Hush! sib down and have some bread and milk, and we'll
talk it all over afterwards," said he.

I accepted the invitation and partook of the refreshments.
Wild Bill paid the woman of the house, and we v^ent out to the
gate where my horse was standing.

" Billy, my boy,** said he *< I am mighty glad to see you. I
haven't seen or heard of you since we got busted on that St.
Louis horse race."

" What are you do^ng here?" I asked,

'* I am a scout under General McNiel. For the last few days
I have been with General Marmaduke's division of Price's army,
in disguise as a Southern otficer from Texas, as you see me now,"
said he,

*' That's exactly the kind of business that I am out on to-day,*
said I; ** and I want to get some information concerning Price's
movements."

** I'll give you all that I have;" and he then went on and told
me all that he knew regarding Price's intentions, and the number
and condition of his men. He then asked about my mother, and
when he learned that she was dead he was greatly surprised ant?
grieved ; he thought a great deal of her, for she had treated him
almost as one of her own children. He finally took out a pack-
age, which he had concealed about his person, and handing it to
me he said : —

•* Here are some letters which I want you to give to General
McNeil.

*' All right," said 1 as I took them, ** but where will I meet
you again ?' *

** Never mind that," he replied; ** I am getting so much val-
uable information that I propose to stay a little while longer in
this disguise.'* Thereupon we shook hands and parted.

It is not necessary to say much concerning Price's raid in gen-
eral, a3 that event is a matter of recorded history. I am only
relating the incidents in which I was personally interested er .her
as one of the actors or as an observer.

92 STORY OP THE WILD WEST,

A PLEASANT LITTLE EPISODE.

Another interesting, and I may say exciting, episode iiappened
to me a day or two after my unexpected meeting with Wild Bili.
I was riding with the advance guard of our army, and wishing a
drink of water, I stopped at a farm house. There were no men
about the premises, and no one excepting a very fine and intel-
lectual looking lady and her two daughters. They seemed to be
almost frightened to death at seeing me — a * ' yank ' ' — appear
before them. I quieted their fears somewhat and the mother
then asked me how far back the army was. When I told her it
would be along shortly, she expressed her fears that they would
take everything on the premises. They set me out a lunch and
treated me very kindly, so that I really began to sympathize with
them ; for I knew that the soldiers would ransack their house and
confiscate everything they could lay their hands on. At last J
resolved to do what I could to protect them.

After the generals and the staff officers had passed by, I took
it upon myself to be a sentry over the house. When the com-
mand came along some of the men rushed up with the intention
of entering the place and carrying off all the desirable plunder
possible, and then tearing and breaking everything to pieces, as
they usually did along the line of march.

" Halt!'* I shouted ; " I have been placed here by the com-
manding officer as a guard over this house, and no man must enter
:t.'* This stopped the first squad; and seeing that my plan was
a success, I remained at my post during the passage of the entire
command and kept out all intruders.

It seemed as if the ladies could not thank me sufficiently for
the protection I had afforded them. They were perfectly aware
of the fact that I had acted without orders and entirely on my
own responsibility, and therefore they felt the more grateful.
They urgently invited me to remain a little while longer and par-
take of an excellent dinner which they said they were preparing
for me. T was pretty hungry about that time, as our rations had

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 93

been rather slim of late, and a good dinner was a temptation I
could not withstand, especially as it was served up by such ele-
gant ladies. While I was eating the meal I was most agreeably
entertained by the young ladies, and before I finished it the last
of the rear-guard was at least two miles beyond the house.

Suddenly three men entered the room, and I looked up and saw
three double-barreled shot-guns leveled straight at me. Before
I could speak, however, the mother and her daughters sprang
between the men and me.

*« Father! Boys! Lower your guns! You must not shoot
this man," and similar exclamations were uttered by all three.
The guns were lowered and then the men, who were the
father and brothers of the young ladies, were informed of what
I had done for them. It appeared that they had been concealed
in the woods near by while the army was passing, and on coming
into the house and findmg a Yankee there, they determined to
shoot him. Upon learning the facts, the old man extended his
hand to me, saymg: —

«*I would not harm a hair of your head for the world; but it
IS best that you stay here no longer, as your command is some
distance in advance now, and you might be cut off by bush-
whackers before reaching it."

Bidding them all good-bye, and with many thanks from the
mother and daughters, I mounted my horse and soon over-
took the column, happy in the thought that I had done a good
deed, and with no regrets that I had saved from pillage and de-
struction the home and property of a Confederate and his
family.

Our command kept crowding against Price and his army until
they were pushed into the vicinity of Kansas City, where their
further advance was checked by United States troops from Kan-
sas ; and then was begun their memorable and extraordinary re-
treat back into Kansas.

A WONDERFUL ESCAPE.

While both armies were drawn up in skirmish line near Forf
Scott Kansas, two men on horseback were seen rapidly leaving

94 STORY OP THE WILD WEST.

the Confederate lines, and suddenly they made a dash towards
us. Instantly quick volleys were discharged from the Confeder-
ates, who also began a pursuit, and some five hundred shots were
fired at the flying men. It was evident that they were trying to
reach our lines, but when within about a quarter of a mile of us,
one of them fell from his horse to rise no more. He had been
fatally shot. His companion galloped on unhurt, and seven
companies of our regiment charged out and met him, and checked
his pursuers. The fugitive was dressed in Confederate uniform,
and as he rode into our lines I recognized him as Wild Bill, the
Union scout. He immediately sought Generals Pleasanton and
McNiel, with whom he held a consultation. He told them that
although Price made a bold showing on the front, by bringing all
his men into view, yet he was really a great deal weaker than the
appearance of his lines would indicate ; and that he was then try-
ing to cross a difficult stream four miles from Fort Scott.

It was late in the afternoon, but General Pleasanton immedi-
ately ordered an advance, and we charged in full force upon the
rear of Price's army, and drove it before us for two hours.

If Wild Bill could have made his successful dash into our lines
earlier in the day, the attack would have been made sooner, and
greater results might have been expected. The Confederates
had suspected him of being a spy for two or three days, and had
watched him too closely to allow an opportunity to get away from
them sooner. His unfortunate companion who had been shot,
was a scout from Springfield, Missouri, whose name I cannot now
remember.

From this time on, Wild Bill and myself continued to scout
together until Price's army was driven south of the Arkansas
river and the pursuit abandoned.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL,

CHAPTER VII

COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE.

AMP-LIFE and fighting guerrixlas is not a very
desirable occupation, and even scouting in
the service is not so agreeable as making love
to pretty girls; appreciating this fact, after
nearly four years of hardships along the ad-
vance, I was very much pleased with (he
change when in the winter of 1864-65 I was
permitted to spend a time at military head-
quarters in St. Louis on detached service. It was while I was in
this pleasing situation that I became acquainted with a young
lady named Louisa Frederici, whom I greatly admired and in
whose charming society I spent many a pleasant hour.

The war closing in 1865, I was discharged, and after a brief
visit at Leavenworth I returned to St. Louis, having made up
my mind to capture the heart of Miss Frederici, whom I now
adored above any other young lady that I had ever seen.
Her lovely face, her gentle disposition and her graceful man-
ners, won my admiration and love ; and I was not slow in de-
claring my sentiments to her. The result was that I obtamed her
consent to marry me in the near future, and when I bade her
good-bye I considered myself one of the happiest of men.

Meantime I drove a string of horses from Leavenworth to Fort
Kearney, where I met my old friend Bill Trotter, who was then
division stage agent. He employed me at once to drive stage
between Kearney and Plum Creek, the road running near the
spot where I had my first Indian fight with the McCarthy bioth-
ers, and where I killed my first Indian, nearly nine years before.
I drove stage over this route until February, 1866, and while
bounding over the cold, dreary road day after day, my thoughts
turned continually towards my promised bride, until I at last de-

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

termined to abandon staging forever, and marry and settle down
Immediately after coming to this conclusion, I went to St.
Louis, where I was most cordially received by my sweetheart ;
it was arranged between us that our wedding should take place
on the 6th day of March following.

At last the day arrived and the wedding ceremony was per-
formed at the residence of the bride's parents, in the presence
of a large number of invited friends, whose hearty congratula-
tions we received. I was certainly to be congratulated, for I
had become possessed of a lovely and noble woman, and as 1

OVERLAND STAGE COACH.

gazed upon her as she stood beside me arrayed in her wedding
costume, I indeed felt proud of her; and from that time to this
I have alway thought that I made a most fortunate choice for a life
partner.

BRIDAL TRIP ON A MISSOURI STEAMER.

An hour after the ceremony we — my bride and myself ^-^
were on board of a Missouri river steamboat, bound for our
new home in Kansas. My wife's parents had accompanied us
to the boat, and had bidden us a fond farewell and a God-speed
on our ipurnev.

"TELL US A STORY, 'BUFFALO BILL' "

Colonel Cody was never happier than when surrounded by
boys and girls, and he delighted in telling them of his adven-
tures, always being careful to wind up his story with a good
moral. He loved children and the children loved him.

PAHASKA AND PLAYMATES

*' Little Iron Tail" and ''The Idaho Kid," seated on Buf-
falo Bill's knees listening to his stories, were not happier than
he was. Many times he sent for the children in orphan homes
and homes for crippled children, so they could enjoy the wonders
of the Wild West Show as his guests.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 97

During the trip up the river several very amusing, yet awk^
ward, incidents occurred, some of which I cannot resist relating.
There liappened to be on board the boat an excursion party
from Lexington, Missouri, and those comprising it seemed to
shun me, for some reason which at the time I could not account
for. They would point at me, and quietly talk among them-
selves, and eye me very closely. Their actions seemed very
strange to me. After the boat had proceeded some little dis
tance, I made the acquaintance of several families from Indiana,
who were en route to Kansas. A gentleman, who seemed to be
the leader of these colonists said to me, " The people of this
excursion party don't seem to have any great love for you."

*' What does it mean?'* I asked;** what are they saying? It's
all a mystery to me."

** They say that you are one of the Kansas jay-hawkers, and
one of Jennison's house burners," replied the gentleman.

**Iam from Kansas — that's true; and was a soldier and a
scout in the Union army," said I; ** and I was in Kansas during
the border ruffian war of 1856. Perhaps these people know who
I am, and that explains 'their hard looks." I had a lengthy con-
versation with this gentleman — for such he seemed to be — and
entertained him with several chapters of the history of the early
Kansas troubles, and told him the experiences of my own
family.

In the evening the Lexington folks got up a dance, but neither
the Indiana people, my wife or myself were invited to join them.
My new-found friend thereupon came to me and said: "Mr.
Cody, let us have a dance of our own."

** Very well," was my reply.

** We have some musicians along with us, so we can have
plenty of music," remarked the gentleman.

** Good enough! " said I, ** and I will hire the negro barber
to play the violin for us. He is a good fiddler, as I heard him
playing only a little while ago." The result was that we soon
organized a good string band and had a splendid dancp keepi'^'"
it up as long as the Lexington party did theirs.

98 STORY OF THE WILD WESx

A CLOSE CALL.

The second day oat from St. Louis the boat stopped to wood-
up at a wild looking landing. Suddenly twenty horsemen were
seen galloping up through the timber, and as they came nearer
the boat they fired on the negro deck-hands, against whom they
seemed to have a special grudge, and who were engaged in throw-
ing wood on board. The negroes all quickly jumped on the boat
and pulled in the gang-plank, and the captain had only just time
to get the steamer out into the stream before the bushwhackers —
for such they proved to be — appeared on the bank.

** Where is the black Abolition jay-hawker?*' shouted the
leader. ** Show him to us, and we'll shoot him," yelled another.
But as the boat had got well out in the river by this time they
could not board us, and the captain ordering a full head of steam,
pulled out and left them.

I afterwards ascertained that some of the Missourians, who
were with the excursion party, were bushwhackers themselves,
and had telegraphed to their friends from some previous landing
that I was on board, telling them to come to the landing which
we had just left and take me off. Had the villains captured me
they would have undoubtedly put an end to my career, and the
public would never have had the pleasure of being bored by this
autobiography.

I noticed that my wife felt grieved over the manner in which
these people had treated me. Just married, she was going into
a new country, and seeing how her husband was regarded, how
he had been shunned, and how his life had been threatened, I
was afraid she might come to the conclusion too soon that she
had wedded a *' hard customer." So when the boat landed at
Kansas City I telegraphed to some of my friends in Leavenworth
that I would arrive there in the evening. My object was to have
my acquaintances give me a reception, so that my wife could see
that I really did have some friends and was not so bad a man as
the bushwhackers tried to make out.

Just as I expected, when the boat reached Leavenworth I

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 99

found a general round-up of friends at the landing to receive us.
There were about sixty gentlemen and ladies. They had a band
of music with them and we were given a fine serenade. Taking
carriages, we all drove to South Leavenworth to the home of my
sister Eliza, who had married George Myers, and there we were
given a very handsome reception. All this cheered up my wife,
who concluded that I was not a desperado after all.

KEEPING A HOTEL.

Having promised my wife that I would abandon the plains, I
rented a hotel in Salt Creek Valley — the same house, by the
way, which my mother had forhierly kept, but which was then
owned by Dr. J. J. Crook, late surgeon of the 7th Kansas.
This hotel I called the Golden Rule House, and I kept it until
the next September. People generally said I made a good land-
lord and knew how to run a hotel — a business qualification
which, it is said, is possessed by comparatively few men. But
it proved too tame employment for me, and again I sighed for
the freedom of the plains. Believing that 1 could make more
money out West on the frontier than I could at Salt Creek Val-
ley, I sold out the Golden Rule House and started alone for
Saline, Kansas, which was then the end of the track of the
Kansas Pacific railway, which was at that time being built across
the plains. On my way I stopped at Junction City, where I
again met my old friend Wild Bill, who was scouting for the
government, his headquarters being at Fort Ellsworth, afterwards
called Fort Harker. Ho told me that they needed more scouts
at this post, and I accordingly accompanied him to that fort,
where I had no difficulty in obtaining employment.

During the winlerof 1866-67, I scouted between Fort Ells-
worth and Fort Fletcher. In the spring of 1867 I was at Fort
Fletcher, when General Custer came out to go on an Indian ex-
pedition with General Hancock. I remained at this post until it
was drowned out by the heavy floods of Big creek, on which it
was located ; the water rose about the fortifications and rendered
the place unfit for occupancy ; so the government abandoned the

100

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

fort and moved the troops and supplies to a new post — which
had been named Fort Hays — located further west, on the south
fork of Big creek. It was while scouting in the vicinity of Fort
Hays that I had my first ride with the dashing and gallant Custer,
who had come up to the post from Fort Ellsworth with an escort
of only ten men. He wanted a guide to pilot him to Fort Larned,
a distance of sixty-five miles across the country.

ACTING AS GUIDE TO CUSTER.

I was ordered by the commanding ofilcer to guide General
Custer to his desired destination, and I soon received word from

the General that he would start
out in the morning with the in-
tention of making the trip in
one day. Early in the morn-
ing, after a good night's rest, 1
was on hand, mounted on my
large mouse-colored mule — an
animal of great endurance —
and ready for the journey;
when the General saw me he
said: —

*' Cody, I want to travel fast
and go through as quickly as
possible, and I don't think that
mule of yours is fast enough to suit me."

** General, never mind the mule," said I, *« he'll get there as
soon as your horses. That mule is a good one," as I knew that
the animal was better than most horses.

" Very well; go ahead, then," said he, though he looked as if
ne thought I would delay the party on the road.

For the first fifteen miles, until we came to the Smoky Hill
river, which we were to cross, I could hardly keep the mule in ad-
vance of the General, who rode a frisky, impatient and ambitious
thoroughbred steed; in fact, the whole party was finely mounted.
The General repeatedly told me that the mule was ** no good "

GEN. GEO. A. CUSTER.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 101

and that 1 ought to have had a good horse. But after crossing the
river, and striking the sand-hills, I began letting my mule out a
little, and putting the *' persuaders " to him. He was soon out-
traveling the horses, and by the time we had made about half the
distance to Fort Larned, I occasionally had to wait for the Gen-
eral or some of his party, as their horses were beginning to show
signs of fatigue.

** General, how about this mule, anyhow? " I asked at last.

"Cody, you have a better vehicle than I thought you had,*'
was his reply.

From that time on to Fort Larned I had no trouble in keep-
ing ahead of the party. We rode into the fort at four o'clock in
the afternoon with about half the escort only, the rest having
laorcred far behind.

A FIGHT WITH THE INDIANS.

General Custer thanked me for having brought him straight
across the country without any trail, and said that if I were not
engaged as post-scout at Fort Hays he would like to have me
accompany him as one of his scouts during the summer; and he
added that whenever I was out of employment, if I would come
to him he would find something for me to do. This was the be-
ginning of my acquaintance with General Custer, whom I always
admired as a man and as an officer.

A few days after my return to Fort Hays, the Indians made a
raid on the Kansas Pacific railroad, killing five or six men and
running off about one hundred horses and mules. The news was
brought to the commanding officer, who immediately ordered
Major Arms, of the Tenth Cavalry — which, by the way, was a
negro regiment — with his company and one mountain howitzer,
to go in pursuit of the red-skins, and I was sent along with the
expedition as scout and guide. On the second day out we sud-
denly discovered, on the opposite side of the Saline river, about
a mile distant, a large body of Indians, who were charging down
upon us. Major Arms, placing the cannon on a little knoll,
limbered it up and left twenty men to guard it; and then, with

102 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

the rest of the command, he crossed the river to meet the
Indians.

Just as he had got the men over the stream we heard a terrific,
yelling and shouting in our rear, and looking back to the knoll
where the cannon had been stationed, we saw the negroes, who
had been left there to guard the gun, flying toward us, being
pursued by about one hundred Indians, while another large party
of the latter were dancing around the captured cannon, as if they
had secured a trophy that was dangerous for them to handle.
Major Arms soon turned his attention towards the Indians and
with a sharp charge drove them from the gun and recaptured it,
but not until the carriage was broken and the gun rendered use-
less. The fight became hotter when the Indians were re-enforced
by another large war party, that now came back at us in fine
style. In this charge five of our men were killed and many more
wounded, among the latter being Major Arms himself. The
colored troops became fear-stricken and it was almost impossible
to prevent a paa'c. In this sorry condition, and the danger of
our position becoming a perilous one if the unequal contest was
continued, Major Arms ordered a retreat, which was obeyed with
singular spirit and alacrity. The Indians pursued us for a while,
but darkness soon came on and under its protecting mantle we
managed to escape, and to reach Fort Hays at daylight the fol-
lowinor morninoj in an exhausted condition.

During our absence on this expedition the cholera broke out
at the post, from which terrible disease five or six soldiers died
daily, but the colored troops had so much less dread of cholera
than they had of Indians that there was no dearth of nurses for
the sick, as every negro at the post became a volunteer minister
to the cholera patients.

104 8TOKY OF THE WILD WEST.

CHAPTER VIII.

A MILLIONAIRE IN PROSPECTIVE.

OON after returning to Fort Hays I was sent with
dispatches to Fort Harker. After delivering the
messages I visited the town of Ellsworth, about
three miies west of Fort Harker, and there I
met a man named William Rose, a contractor on
the Kansas Pacific railroad, who had a contract
for grading near Fort Hays. His stock had
been stolen by the Indians, and his visit to Ells-
worth was to buy more.

During the course of our conversation, Mr. Rose incidentally
remarked that he had some idea of laying out a town on the west
side of Big creek, about one mile from the fort, where the rail-
road was to cross. He asked my opinion cf the contemplated
enterprise, and I told him that I thought it was *« a big thing."
He then proposed taking me as a partner in the scheme, and
suggested that after we got the town laid out and thrown open
to the public, we should establish a store and saloon there.

Thinking it would be a grand thing to be half -owner of a
town, I at once accepted his proposition. We bought a stock of
such articles as are usually found in a frontier store, and trans-
ported them to the place en Big creek where we were to found
our town. We hired a railroad engineer to survey the site and
stake it off into lots, and we gave the new town the ancient and
historical name of Rome. As a "starter," we donated lots to
any one who would build on them, but reserved the corner lots
and others which were best located for ourselves. These re-
served lots we valued at fifty dollars each.

A HOWL FROM ROME.

Our modern Rome, like all mushroom towns along the line of
a new railroad, sprang up as if by magic, and in less than one
month we had two hundred frame and log houses, three or four

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 105

fftores, several saloons, and one good hotel. Rome was looming
up, and Rose and I already considered ourselves millionaires,
and thought we ** had the world by the tail.*' But one day a
fine looking gentleman, calling himself Dr. W. E. Webb, ap-
peared in town, and dropping into our store introduced himself
in a very pleasant way : —

*« Gentlemen, you've got a very flourishing little town here.
Wouldn't you like to have a partner in your enterprise? "

<' No, thank you," said I, *' we have too good a thing here to
whack up with anybody."

My partner agreed with me, but the conversation was con-
tinued, and at last the stranger said: —

*' Gentlemen, I am the agent or prospector of the Kansas
Pacific railroad, and my business is to locate towns for the com-
pany along tho line."

"We think we have the only suitable town-site in this imme-
diate locality," said Mr. Rose, *' and as a town is already started,
we have saved the company considerable expense,"

<* You know as well as I do," said Dr. Webb, *« that the com-
pany expects to make money by selling lands and town lots ; and
as you are not disposed to give the company a show, or share
with me, I shall probably have to start another town near you.
Competition is the life of trade, you know."

*' Start your town, if you want to. We've got the * bulge'
on you, and can hold it," said I, somewhat provoked at his
threat.

But we acted too independently and too indiscreetly for our
own good. Dr. Webb, the very next day after his interview with
us, began hauling material to a spot about one mile east of us,
where he staked out a new town, which he called Hayo City.
He took great pains to circulate in our town the story that tho
railroad company would locate their round-houses and machine
shops at Hays City, and that it was to be ^Ae town and a splendid
business center. A ruinous stampede from our place was the
result. People who had built in Rome came to the conclusion
that they had settled in the wrong place ; they began pulling do wd

106

STORY OF THE WILD t^ST.

their buildings and moving them
over to Hays City, and in less
than three days our once flourish-
ing city had dwindled down to
the little store which Rose and I
had built.

It was on a bright summer
morning that we sat on a pine
box in front of our crib, moodily
viewing the demolition of the last
building. Three days before we
had considered ourselves million-
aires ; on that morning we looked
around and saw that we were re-
duced to the ragged edge of
proverty . Our sanguine expect-
ations of realizing immense
fortunes were dashed to the
ground and we felt pretty blue.
The new town of Hays had swal-
lowed Rome entirely. Mr. Rose
facetiously remarked that he felt
like " the last rose of summer,**
with all his lovely companions
faded and gone, and he left
blooming alone. I told him I
was still there, staunch and true,
but he replied that that didn't
help the matter much. Thus
ends the brief history of the
**Rise, Decline and Fall** of
Modern Rome.

It having become evident to
me that there was very little hope
of Rome ever regaining its former
splendor and prosperity, I sent

HOWL FROM BOM)

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 107

my wife and daughter Arta — who had been born at Leavenworth
m the latter part of December, 1866 — to St. Louis on a visit.
They had been living with me for some little time in the rear
part of our ** store.*'

At this time Mr. Rose and myself had a contract under Schu-
macher, Miller & Co., constructors of the Kansas Pacific, for
grading five miles of track westward from Big creek, and run-
ning through the site of Rome. Notwithstanding we had been
leserted, we had some small hope that they would not be able to
^et water at the new town, and that the people would all soon
move back to Rome, as we really had the best location. We
determined, therefore to go on with our grading contract, and
wait for something better to turn up. It was indeed hard for us,
who had been millionaires, to come down to the level of common
railroad contractors — but we had to do it all the same.

We visited the new town of Hays almost daily, to see how it
was progressing, and in a short time we became much better ac-
quainted with Dr. Webb, who had reduced us from our late in-
dependent to our present dependent position. We found him a
perfect gentlemen — a whole-souled, genial-hearted fellow, whom
everybody liked and respected. Nearly every day *' Doc." and
I would take a ride over the prairie together and hunt buffalo.

A LITTLE SPORT WITH THE HOSTILES.

On one occasion, having ventured about ten miles from the
town, we spied a band of Indians not over two miles distant, who
were endeavoring to get between us and the town, and thus cut
us off. I was mounted on my celebrated horse Brigham, the
fieetest steed I ever owned. On several subsequent occasions he
saved my life, and he was the horse that I rode when I killed
sixty- nine buffaloes in one day. Dr. Webb was riding a beauti-
ful thoroughbred bay, which he had brought with him from the
East. Having such splendid horses, we laughed at the idea of a
band of Indians overtaking us on a square run, no matter how
well they might be mounted, but not caring to be cut off by
them, we ran our steeds about three miles towards home, thus

108 STORY OF THE WILD WEST

getting between the braves and the town. The Indians were then
about three-quarters of a mile distant, and we stopped and waved
our hats at them, and fired some shots at long range. There
were thirteen in the party, and as they were getting pretty close
to us, we struck out for Hays. They came on in pursuit and
sent several scattering shots after us, but we easily left them be-
hind. They finally turned and rode off towards the Saline
river.

The Doctor thought this glorious sport, and panted to organ-
ize a party to go in pursuit of them, but I induced him to give
up this idea, although he did so rather reluctantly. The Doctor
soon became quite an expert hunter, and before he had remained
on the prairie a year there were but few men in the country who
could kill more buffaloes on a hunt than he.

Being aware that Eose and myself felt rather down-hearted
over our deserted village, the Doctor one day said that, as he had
made the proprietors of Rome ''howl," he would give us two
lots each in Hays, and did so. "We finally came to the conclu-
sion that our old town was dead beyond redemption or revival,
and we thereupon devoted our undivided attention to our railroad
contract. One day we were pushed for horses to work on our
scrapers — so I hitched up Brigham, to see how he would work.
He was not much used to that kind of labor, and I was about giving
up the idea of making a work-horse of him, when one of the
men called to me that there were some buffaloes coming over the
hill. As there had been no buffaloes seen anj^vvhere in the vicin-
ity of the camp for several days, we had become rather short of
meat. I immediately told one of our men to hitch his horses to a
wagon and follow me, as I was going out after the herd, and we
would bring back some fresh meat for supper. I had no saddle,
as mine had been left at the camp a mile distant, so taking the
harness from Brigham, I mounted him bareback and started out
after the game, being armed with my celebrated buffalo-killer,
' * Lucretia Borgia, ' ' — a newly-improved breech-loading needle gun,
which I had obtained from the government.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 109

BRIGHAM TO THE FRONT.

While I was riding toward the buffaloes I observed five horse-
men coming out from the fort, who had evidently seen the buffa-
loes from the post, and were going out for a chase. They proved
to be some newly-arrived officers in that part of the country, and
when they came up closer, I could see by the shoulder straps
that the senior officer was a captain, while the others were lieu-
tenants.

''Hello! my friend," sang out the Captain, ''I see you are
after the same game we are."

' * Yes, sir ; I saw those buffaloes coming over the hill, and as
we were about out of fresh meat 1 thought I would go and get
some," said I.

They scanned my cheap-looking outfit pretty closely, and as
my horse was not very prepossessing in appearance, having on
only a blind bridle, and otherwise looking like a work-horse, they
evidently considered me a green hand at hunting.

'' Do you expect to catch those buffaloes on that Gothic steed?"
laughingly asked the captain.

*' I hope so, by pushing on the reins hard enough," was my
reply.

*' You'll never catch them in the world, my fine fellow," said
the captain. '* It requires a fast horse to overtake the animals
on these prairies."

** Does it?" asked I, as if I didn't know it.

'* Yes; but come along with us as we are going to kill them
more for pleasure than anything else. All we want are the
tongues and a piece of tender-loin, and you may have all that is
left, ' ' said the generous man.

" I am much obliged to you. Captain, and will follow you," I
replied.

There were eleven buffaloes in the herd and they were not
more than a mile from us. The officers dashed ahead as if they
had a sure thing on killing them all before I could come up with
them; but I had noticed that the herd was making towards the

110 STORY or THE WILD WEbT. "

creek for water, and as I knew buffalo nature, I was perfectly
aware that it would be diflScult to turn them from their direct
course. Thereupon, I started towards the creek to head them
off, while the officers came up in the rear and gave chase.

A PRETTY BUFFALO DRIVE.

The buffaloes came rushing past me not a hundred yards dis-
tant, with the officers about three hundred yards m the rear.
Now, thought I, is the time to " get my work in,*' as they say;
and I pulled the bLnd-bridle from my horse, who knew as well
as I did that we were out for buffaloes — as he was a trained
hunter. The moment the bridle was off, he started at the top
of his speed, running m ahead of the officers, and with a few
jumps he brought me alongside of the rear buffalo. Raising old
** Lucretia Borgia '* to my shoulder, I fired, and killed the animal
at the first shot. My horse then carried me alongside the no'
one, not ten feet away, and I dropped him at the next tire.

As soon as one buffalo would fail, Brigham would take me so
close to the next that I could almost touch it with my gun. In
this manner I killed the eleven buffaloes with twelve shots; and,
as the last animal dropped, my horse stopped. I jumped to the
ground, knowing that he would not ieave me — it must be remem-
bered that I had been riding him without bridle, reins or saddle —
and turning around as the party of a-stonished officers rode up, I
said to them : —

" Now, gentlemen, allow me to present to you all the tongues
and tender-loins you wish from these buffaloes.*'

Captain Graham, for such I soon learned was his name, re-
plied : ** Well, I never saw the like before. Who under the, sun
are you, anyhow?"

" My name is Cody," said I.

One of the lieutenants, Thompson by name, who had met me
at Fort Harker, then recognized me, and said: '* Why, that is
Bill Cody, our old scout." He tiien introduced me to the other
officers, who were Captain Graham of the Tenth Cavalry, and
Lieutenants Eeed, Emmick and EzekieL

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OJF BUFFALO BILL.

Ill

Captain Graham, who was considerable of a horseman, greatly
admired Brigham, and said: *' That horse of yours has running
points."

'* Yes, sir ; he has not only got the points, he is a runner and
knows how to use the points," said I.

*« So I noticed," said the captain.

They ail finally dismounted, and we countinued chatting for
some little time upon the different subjects of horses, buffaloes,

ACCEPT THE TONGUES AND TENDER-LOINS.

Indians and hunting. They felt a little sore at not getting a single
shot at the buffaloes, but the way I had killed them had, they
said, amply repaid them for their disappointment. They bad
read of such feats in books, but this was the first time they had
ever seen anything of the kind with their own eyes. It was the
first time, also, that they had ever witnessed or heard of a white
Qian running buffaloes on horseback without a saddle or a bridle.
I told them that Brigham knew nearly as much about the busi-
ness as I did, and if I had twenty bridles they would have been of

112 STomr of the wild wesx

no use to me, as he understood everything, and all that he expected
of me was to do the shooting. It is a fact, that Brigham would
stop if a buffalo did not fall at the first fire, so as to give me a
second chance, but if I did not kill the buffalo then, he would go
on, as if to say, " You are no good, and I will not fool away my
time by giving you more than two shots." Brigham was the best
horse I ever owned or saw for buffalo chasing.

Our conversation was interrupted in a little while by the arri-
val of the wagon which 1 had ordered out; I loaded the hind-
quarters of the youngest buffaloes on it, and then cut out the
tongues and tender-loins, and presented them to the officers, after
which I rode towards the fort with them, while the wagox re-
turned to camp.

Captain Graham told me that he expected to be stationed at
Fort Hays during the summer, and would probably be sent out
on a scouting expedition, and in case he was he would like to have
me accompany him as scout and guide. I replied that notwith-
standing I was very busy with my railroad contract I would go
with him if he was ordered out. I then left the officers and re-
turned to our camp.

IX PURSUIT OF INDIANS.

That very night the Indians unexpectedly made a raid on the
horses, and ran off ^vo or six of our very best work-teams, leav-
ing us ill a very crippled condition. At daylight I jumped on old
Brigham and rode to Fort Hays, where I reported the affair to the
commanding officer; Captain Graham and Lieutenant Emmick
were at once ordered out with their company of one hundred col-
ored troops, to pursue the Indians and recover our stock if possi-
bl3. In an hour we were under way. The darkies had never
been in an Indian fight and were anxious to catch the band we
were after and *' Sweep de red debels from off de face of de
yearth." Captain Graham was a brave, dashing officer, eager to
make a record for himself, and it was with difficulty that I could
trail fast enough to keep out of the way of the impatient soldiers.
Every few moments Captain Graham would ride up to see if the

AUTOBIOGBAPHT OF BUFFALO BILL, 113

trail was freshening and how soon we should be likely to over-
take the thieves.

At last we reached the Saline river, where we found the In-
dians had only stopped to feed and water the animals, and had
then pushed on towards the Solomon. After crossing the Saline
they made no effort to conceal their trail, thinking they would
not be pursued beyond that point — consequenntly we were able to
make excellent time. We reached the Solomon before sunset, and
came to a halt ; we surmised that if the Indians were camped on
this river, that they had no suspicion of our being in the neigh-
borhood. I advised Captain Graham to remain with the company
where it was, while I went ahead on a scout to find the Indians,
if they were in the vicinity.

After riding some distance down the ravine that led to the
river, I left my horse at the foot of a hill; then, creeping to the
top, I looked cautiously over the summit upon the Solomon be-
low. I at cnce discovered in plain view, not a mile away, a herd
of horses grazing, our lost ones among them; very shortly 1
made out the Indian camp, noted :ts lay, and how we could best
approach it. Keporting to Captain Graham, whose eyes fairly
danced with delight at the prospect of surprising and whipping
the red-skins, we concluded to wait until the moon rose, then get
into the timber so as to approach the Indians as closely as possi-
ble wit ho at being discovered, and finally to make a sudden dash
into their camp and clean them out. We had everything «' cut
and dried," as we thought, but alas! just as we were nearingthe
point where we were to take the open ground and make our
charge, one of the colored gentlemen became so excited that
he fired off his gun. We immediately commenced the charge,
but the firing of the gun and the noise of Our rush through the
crackling timber alarmed the Indians, who at once sprang to their
horses and were away from us before we reached their late camp.
Captain Gndiam called out <* Follow me, boys! " which we did
for a while, but in the darkness the Indians made good their es-
cape. The bugle then gave the recall, but some of the darkies
did not get back until m^ rning, having, in their fright, allowed

114 STORY OF THE WILD Wi!.ST.

their horses to run away with them withersoever it suited the ani-
mals' pleasure to go.

We followed the trail the next day for awhile, but as it became
evident that it would be a long chase to overtake the enemy, and
as we had rations only for the day, we commenced the return.
Captain Graham was bitterly disappomted m not being able to
get the fight when it seemed so near at one time. He roundly
cursed the " nigger** who fired the gun, and as a punishment for
his carelessness, he was compelled to walk all the way back to
Fort Hays.

HOW I RECEIVED THE TITLE OF BUFFALO BILL.

The construction of the Kansas Pacific railroad was pushed
forward with great rapidity, and when track-iaying began it was
only a very short time before the road was ready for construction
trains as far west as the heart of the buffaiO country. Twelve
hundred men were employed in the work, ana as the Indian?
were very troublesome it became difficult to obtain sufficient fresh
meat to feed such an army of workmen. This embarrassment
was at length overcome by the construction company engaging
hunters to kill buffaloes, the flesh of which is equal to the best
corn-fed beef.

Having heard of my experience and success as a buffalo hunter,
Messrs. Goddard Brothers, who had the contract for boarding
the employees of the road, met me in Hays City one day and
made me a good offer to become their hunter, and I at once en-
tered into a contract with them. They said that they would re-
quire about twelve buffaloes per day ; that would be twenty-four
hams, as we took only the hind-quarters and hump of each buf-
falo. As this was to be dangerous work, on account of the
Indians, who were riding all over that section of the country,
and as I would be obliged to go from five to ten miles from tne
road each day to hunt the buffaloes, accompanied by oniy one
man with a light wagon for the transportation of the meat, I of
course demanded a large salary. They could afford to remuner-
ate me well, because the meat would not cost them anything.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 115

'They agreed to give me ^ve hundred dollars per month, provided
I furnished them all the fresh meat required.

Leaving my partner, Rose, to complete our grading contract,
I immediately began my career as a buffalo hunter for the Kan-
sas Pacific railroad, and it was not long before I acquired con-
siderable notoriety. It was at this time that the very appropriate
name of *' Buffalo Bill" was conferred upon me by the road-
hands. It has stuck to me ever since, and I have never been
ashamed of it.

During my engagement as hunter for the company — a period
of less than eighteen months — I killed 4,280 buffaloes; and J
had many exciting adventures with the Indians, as well as hair
breadth escapes, some of which are well worth relating.

A RACE FOR MY SCALP.

One day in the spring of 1868 I mounted Brigham and started
for. Smoky Hill river. After galloping about twenty miles I
reached the top of a small hill overlooking the valley of that
beautiful stream. As I was gazing on the landscape, I suddenly
saw a band of about thirty Indians nearly half a mile distant ;
I knew by the way they jumped on their horses that they had seen
me as soon as I came into sight.

The only chance I had for my life was to make a run for it,
and I immediately wheeled and started back towards the railroad.
Brigham seemed to understand what was up, and he struck oui
as if he comprehended that it was to be a run for life. He
crossed a ravine in a few jumps, and on reaching a ridge beyond
I drew rein, looked back and saw the Indians coming for me at
full speed and evidently well mounted. I would have had little
or no fear of being overtaken if Brigham had been fresh ; but as
he was not, I felt uncertain as to how he would stand a long
chase.

My pursuers seemed to be gaining on me a little, and I let
Brigham shoot ahead again; when we had run about three miles
further, some eight or nine of the Indians were not over two
tiundred yards behind, and^five or six of these seemed to be

116 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

shortening the gap at every jump. Brigham now exerted him-
self more than ever, and for the next three or four miles he got
<' right down to business,'* and did some of the prettiest running
I ever saw. But the Indians were about as well mounted as I was,
and one of their horses in particular — a spotted animal — was
gaining on me all the time. Nearly all the other horses were strung
out behind for a distance of two miles, but still chasing after me.

A GREAT SHOT.

The Indian who was riding the spotted horse was armed with
a rifle, and would occasionally send a bullet whistling along,

CHECKING A HOT PURSUIT.

sometimes striking the ground ahead of me. I saw that thi8 fel-
low must be checked, or a stray bullet from his gun might hit me
or my horse; so, suddenly stopping Brigham and quickly wheel-
ing him around, I raised old " Lucretia " to my shoulder, took
deliberate aim at the Indian and his horse, hoping to hit one or
the other, and fired. He was not over eighty yards away from
me at this time, and at the crack of my rifle down went his
horse. Not waiting to see if he recovered, I turned Brigh^ip

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 117

and in a moment we were again fairly flying towards our desti-
nation ; we had urgent business about that time, and were in a
hur^y to get there.

1 he other Indians had gained on us while I was engaged shoot-
ing at their leader, and they sent several shots whizzing past me,
but fortunately none of them hit the intended mark. To re-
turn their compliment I occasionally wheeled myself in the sad-
dle and fired biick at them, and one of my shots broke the leg
of one of their horses, which left its rider hors (e) de combat j
as the French would say.

Only seven or eight Indians now remained in dangerous prox-
imity to me, and as their horses wero beginning to lag somewhat,
I checked my faithful old steed a little, to allow him an oppor-
tunity to draw an extra breath or two. I had determined, if it
should come to the worst, to drop into a buffalo wallow, where I
could stand the Indians off for a while ; but I was not compelled
to do this, as Brighara carried me through most no*bly.

SAUCE FOR THE GANDEFl,

The chase was kept up until we came within three miles of the
end of the railroad track, where two companies of soldiers were
stationed for the purpose of protecting the workmen from the
Indians. One of the outposts saw the Indians chasing me across
the prairie and gave the alarm. In a few minutes I saw, greatly
to my delight, men coming on foot, and cavalrymen too came
galloping to my rescue as soon as they could mount their horses.
When the Indians observed this, they turned and ran in the di-
rection from which they had come. In a very few minutes I was
met by some of the infantrymen and trackmen, and jumping to
the ground and pulling the blanket and saddle off of Brigham, 1
told them what he had done for me ; they at once took him in
charge, led him around, and rubbed him down so vigorously that
I thought they would rub him to death.

Captain Nolan, of the Tenth Cavalry, now came up with for-
ty of his men, and upon learning what had happened he de-
termined to pursne the Indians, Ho kindly offered me one of

118 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

the cavalry horses, and after putting my own saddle and bridle
on the animal, we started out after the flying Indians, who only
a few minutes before had been making it so uncomfortably live-
ly for me. Our horses were all fresh and of excellent stock, and
we soon began shortening the distance between ourselves and the
redskins. Before they had gone five miles we overtook and killed
eight of their number. The others succeeded in making their es-
cape. On coming up to the place where I had killed the first
horse — the spotted one — -on my '*home run," I found that my
bullet had struck him in the forehead and killed him instantly
He was a noble animal, and ought to have been engaged in be^
ter business.

When we got back to camp 1 found old Brigham grazing
quietly and contentedly on the grass. He looked up at me as if
to ask if we had got away with any of those fellows who had
chased us. I believe he read the answer in my eyes.

RUN TO COVER BY INDIANS, •

Another very exciting hunting adventure of mine which de-
serves a place in these reminiscences occurred near Saline river.
My companion at the time was a man called Scotty, a butcher,
who generally accompanied me on these hunting expeditions to
cut up the buffaloes and load the meat into a light wagon which
he brought to carry it in. He was a brave little fellow and a most
excellent shot. I had killed some fifteen buffaloes and we had
started for home with a wagon-load of meat. When within about
eight miles of our destination we suddenly ran en to a party of
at least thirty Indians who came riding out of the head of a
ravine.

On this occasion I was mounted on a most excellent horse be-
longing to the railroad company and could easily have made my
escape ; but of course I could not leave Scotty, who wa^ driving
a pair of mules hitched to the wagon. To think was to act io
those days ; and as Scotty and I had often talked over a plan of
defense in case we were ever surprised by Indians, we instantly
proceeded to carry it out. We iumDed to the ground, unhitched

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 119

the mules quicker than it had ever been done before, and tied
them and my horse to the wagon. We threw the buffalo hams
apon the ground and piled them around the wheels in such a
shape as to form a breast-work. All this was done in a shorter
time than it takes to tell it; and then, with our extra box of am-
munition and three or four extra revolvers, which we always
carried along with us, we crept under the wagon and were fully
prepared to give our visitors the warmest kind of a reception.

The Indians came on pell-mell, but when they were within one
hundred yards of us we opened such a sudden and galling fire
upon them that they held up and began to circle arou d the wagon
instead of ri ling up to take tea with us. They however charged
back and forth upon us several times and their shots killed the
two mules and my horse; but we gave it to them right and left
and had the satisfaction of seeing three of them fall to the ground
not more than fifty yards away. On percei vmg how well we were
fortified and protected by our breast-work of hams, they probably
came to the conclusion that it would be a difficult undertakinor to
dislodge us, for they drew off and gave us a rest, but only a
short one.

SENDING UP A SIGNAL FOU HELP.

This was the kind of fighting we had been expecting for a long
time, as we knew that sooner or later we would be '* jumped "
by Indians while we were out buffalo hunting. I had an under-
standing with the officers who commanded the troops at the end
of the track, that in case their pickets should at any time notice
a smoke in the direction of our huntmg ground they were to give
the alarm, so that assistance might be sent to us, for the smoke
was to indicate that we were in danjrer.

I now resolved to signal to the troops in the manner agreed
on and at the first opportunity set fire to the grass on the wmd-
ward side of the wagon. The fire spread over the prairie at a
rapid rate, causing a dense smoke which I knew would be seen
at the camp. The Indians did not seem to understand this strate-
gic movement. They got off from their horses and from behind
a bank or knoil again peppered away at us ; but we were well

120

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

fortified, and whenever they showed thehr heads we let them
know that we could shoot as well as they.

After we had been cooped up in our little fort for about an
hour, we discovered cavalry coming toward us at full gallop over
the prairie. Our signal of distress had proved a success. The
Indians saw the soldiers at about the same time that we did, and

A SIGNAL OF DISTRESS.

thinking that it would not be healthy for them to remain much
longer in that vicinity, they mounted their horses and disappeared
down the caiions of the creek. When the soldiers came up we had
the satisfaction of showing them five **^oo(i" Indians ^. that it
dead ones. Two hours later we pulled into camp with our load
of meat, which was found to be all right, except that it had a
few oullets and arrows sticking in it.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY 0± BUFFALO BILL.

121

CHAPTER IX.

CHAMPION BUFFALO KILLER ^

RETTY soon after tlie adventures men-
tioned in the preceding chapter, I
had my celebrated buffalo hunt with
Billy Comstock, a noted scout, guide
and interpreter, who was then chief of
scouts at Fort Wallace, Kansas.
Comstock had the reputation, for a long
time, of being a most successful buffalo
hunter, and the officers in particular,
who had seen him kill buffaloes, were
veiy desirous of backing him in a
match against me. It was accordingly
arranged that I should shoot him a
buffalo -killing match, and the prelim-
inaries were easily and satisfactorily
I -^4^^ agreed upon. We were to hunt one

p ifi^ day of eight hours, beginning at eight

l ^^ o'clock in the morning, and closing at

) four o'clcck in the afternoon. The

wager was five hundred dollars a side, and the man who should
kill the greater number of buffaloes from on horseback was to be
declared the winner.

The hunt took place about twenty miles east of Sheridan, and
as it had been pretty well advertised and noised abroad, a large
crowd witnessed the interesting and exciting scene. An excur-
sion party, mostly from St. Louis, consisting of about a hundred
gentlemen and ladies, came out on a special train to view the
sport, and among the number was my wife, with little baby
Arta, who had come to remain with me for a while.

The buflfaloes were quite plenty, and it was agreed that we
should go into the same herd at the same time and ** make a

122 STORY OF THE WILD W^EST.

run," as we called it, each one killing as many m^ [)oesibl6. A
referee was to follow each of us on horseback when we ente»:ed
the herd, and count the buffaloes killed by each man. The St.
Louis excursionists, as well as the other spectators, rode out to
the vicinity of the hunting grounc.^ in wagons and on horseback,
keepir.g well out of sight of the buffaloes, so as not to frighten
them, until the time came for us to dash into the herd — when
they were to come up as near as they pleased and witness the
ehase.

We were fortunate in the first run in getting good ground.
Combiock was mounted on one of his favorite horses, while J
rode old Brigham. I felt confident that I had the advantage of
Comstock in two things: first, 1 had the best buffalo horse that
ever made a track; and second, I was using what was known at
that cime as the needle-gun, a breech-loading Springfield rifle —
calibre 50, — it was my favorite old " Lucretia," which has al-
ready been introduced to the notice of the reader ; while Comstock
was armed with a Henry rifle, and although he could fire a few
shots quicker than I could, yet 1 was pretty certain that it did
not carry powder and lead enough to do execution equal to my
calibre 50.

A DASH INTO THE HERD.

At last the time came to begin the match. Comstock and I
dashed into a herd, followed by the. referees. The buffaloes
separated; Comstock took the left bunch and I the right. My
great forte in killing buffaloes from horseback was to get them
circling by riding my horse at the head of the herd, shooting
the leaders, thus crowding their followers to the left, till they
would finally circle round and round.

On this morning the buffaloes were very accommodating, and
I soon had them running in a beautiful circle, when I dropped
them thick and fast, until I had killed thirty-eight ; which fin-
ished my run. Comstock began shooting at the rear of the herd
which he was chasing, and they kept straight on. He succeeded,
however, in killing twenty-three, but they were scattered ever
a distance of three miles, while mine lay close together. I had

124 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

*' nursed'* my buffaloes, as a billiard-player does tne balls when
he makes a big run.

After the result of the first run had been duly announced, our
St. Louis excursion friends — who had approached to the place
where we had stopped — set out a lot of champagne, which they
had brought with them, and which proved a good drink on a
Kansas prairie, and a bu:ffaio hunter was a good man to get away
with it.

While taking a short rest, we suddenly spied another herd oi
buffaloes coming toward us. It was only a small drove, and we
at once prepared to give the animals a lively reception. They
proved to be a herd of cows and calves ■ — which, by the way, are
quicker in their movements than the bulls. We charged in
among them, and I concluded my run with a score of eighteen,
while Comstock killed fourteen. The score now stood fifty-sij
to thirty -seven, in my favor.

AN EXHIBITION FOR THE LADIES.

Again the excursion party approached, and once more the
champagne was tapped. After we had eaten a lunch which was
spread for us, wo resumed the hunt. Striking out for a distance
of three miles, we came up close to another herd. As I was so
far ahead of my competitor in the number killed, I thought I
could afford to give an extra exhibition of my skill. I had told
the ladies that I would, on the next run, ride my horse without
saddle or bridle. This had raised the excitement to fever heat
among the excursionists, and I remember one fair lady who en-
deavored to prevail upon me not to attempt it.

*' That's nothing at all," said I; «« I have done it many a time,
and old Brigham knows as well as I what I am doing, and some-
times a great deal better."

So, leaving my saddle and bridle with the wagons, we rode to
the windward of the buffaloes, as usual, and when within a few
hundred yards of them we dashed into the herd. I soon had
thirteen laid out on the ground, the last one of which I had

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 125

driven down close to the wagons, where the ladiea were, it
frightened some of the tender creatures to see the buffalo coming at
full speed directly toward them ; but when he had got within fifty
yards of one of the wagons, I shot him dead in his tracks. This
made my sixty-ninth buffalo, and finished my third and last run,
Comstock having killed forty-six.

As it was now late in the afternoon, Comstock and his backers
gave up the idea that he couid beat me, and thereupon the ref
erees declared me the winner of the match, as well as the cham
pion buffalo-hunter of the plains.*

On our way back to camp, we took with us some of the choice
meat and finest heads. In this connection it will not bo out of
place to state that during the time I was hunting for the Kansas
Pacific, I always brought into camp the best buffalo heads, and
turned them over to the company, who found a very good use
for them. They had them mounted in the best possible manner,
and sent them to all the principal cities and railroad centers in
the country, having them placed in prominent positions at the
leading hotels, depots, and other public buildings, as t sort of
trade-mark, or advertiiement, of the Kansas Pacific railroad;
and to-day they attract the attention of the traveler almost every-
where. Whenever I am traveling over the country and see one
of these trade-marks, I feel pretty certain that I was the cause
of the death of the old fellow whose body it once ornamented,
and many a wild and exciting hunt is thus called to mind.

The end of the track finally reached Sheridan, in the month of
May, 1868, and as the road was not to be built any farther just

• Poor Billy Comstock was afterwards treacherously murdered by the In-
dians. He and Sharpe Grover visited a Tillage of Indians, supposed to be
peaceably Inclined, near Big Spring station, In Western Kansas; and after
spending several hours with the red-skins in friendly conversation, they prepared
to depart, having declined an Invitation to pass the night there. It appears that
Comstock's beautiful white-handled revolver had attracted the attention of the
Indians, who overtook him and his companion when they had gone about half a
mile. After surrounding the two men they suddenly attacked them. They
killed, scalped and robbed Comstock; but Grover, although severely wounded,
made his escape, owing to the fleetness of the excellent horse which he was
riding. This sad event occurred August 27.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 127

then, my services as a hunter were not any longer required. At
this time there was a general Indian war raging all along the
Western borders. General Sheridan had taken up his headquar-
ters at Fort Hays, in order to be in the field to superintend the
campaign in person. As scouts and guides were in great demand,
I concluded once more to take up my Oid avocation of scouting
and guiding for the army.

BRIGHAM AND I PART COMPANY.

Having no suitable place in which to leave my old and faithful
buffalo-hunter Brigham, and not wishing to kill him by scouting,
I determined to dispose of himc I was very reluctant to part w^th
him, but I consoled myself with the thought that he would not
be likely to receive harder usage in other hands than he had in
mine. I had several good offers to sell him ; but at the sugges-
tion of some gentlemen in Sheridan, all of whom were anxious to
obtain possession of the horse, I put him up at a raffle, in order
to give them all an equal chance of becoming the owner of the
famous steed. There were ten chances at thirty dcliars each, and
they were all quickly taken.

Old Brigham was won by a gentleman — Mr. Ike Bonham —
who took him to Wyandotte, Kansas, where he soon added new
laurels to his already brilliant record. Although I am getting
ahead of my story, I must now follow Brigham for a while. A
grand tournament came off four miles from Wyandotte, and
Brigham took part m it. As has already been stated, his ap-
pearance was not very prepossessing, and nobody suspected him
of being anything but the most ordinary kind of a plug. The
friends of the rider Liuorhed at him for beinoj mounted on such a
dizzy-looking steed . When the exercises — which were of a very
tame character, being more for style than speed — were over, and
just as the crowd was about to return to the city, a purse of
$250 was made up, to be given to the horse that could first reach
Wyandotte, four miles distant. The arrangement was carried
out, and Brigham was entered as one of the contestants for the
purse. Everybody laughed at Mr. Bonham when it became

128 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

known that he was to ride that poky-looking plug against the five
thoroughbreds which were to take part in the race.

When all the preliminaries had been arranged, the signal was
given, and off went the horses for Wyandotte. For the first half-
mile several of the horses led Brigham, but on the second mile
he began passing them one after another, and on the third mile
he was in advance of them all, and was showing them the road
at a lively rate. On the fourth mile his rider let him out, and
arrived at the hotel — the home-station — in Wyandotte a long
way ahead of his fastest competitor.

Everybody was surprised as well as disgusted, that such a
homely ** critter " should be the winner. Brigham, of course,
had already acquired a wide reputation, and his name and exploits
had often appeared in the newspapers, and when it was learned
that this *' critter" was none other than the identical buffalo-
hunting Brigham, nearly the whole crowd admitted that they had
heard of him before, and had they known him in the first place
they certainly would have ruled him out.

But to return to the thread of my narrative, from which I have
wandered. Having received the appointment of guide and scout,
and having been ordered to report at Fort Larned, then com-
manded by Captain Dangerfield Parker, I saw it was necessary
to take my family — who had remained with me at Sheridan
after the buffalo-hunting match — to Leavenworth and there
leave them. This I did at once, and after providing them with
a comfortable little home I returned and reported for duty at
Fort Larne<3.

A GREAT SHOWMAN

Colonel Cody was not only famous as a scout, hunter, and
Indian fighter, but had an international reputation as a show-
man and evidenced great genius in organizing and managing
the "Wild West Exhibition/'

"A THIRSTY COMRADE"

Buffalo Bill's thoughtful attention in giving his horse a
drink from his own hat was thoroughly characteristic of the man
in all his relations with animals, as well as with people.

BUCKSKIN CHAKLIE.

WAR-CHIEF OF THE UTES.

AMERICAN horse; SIOUX CHIEF.
CTourte^ of Smithsonian Institution.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

129

CHAPTER X.

ACTING AS SPECIAL SCOUT,

EARLY all the scouts operating in
Western Kansas, at the time of
which I write, made their princi-
pal headquarters at Fort Larned,
and were commanded by Dick
Curtis, an old guide, frontiersman
and Indian interpreter. When I
first visited the place in the line
of duty there were some three
hundred lodges of Kiowas and Comanche Indians
camped near the fort. These Indians had not as yet
f^ gone upon the war-path, but were restless and dis-
/// contented, and their leading chiefs, Satanta, Lone
Wolf, Kicking Bird, Satank, Sittamore, and other noted war-
riors, were rather saucy. The post at the time was garrisoned
by only two companies of infantry and one of cavalry.

General Hazen, who was at the post, was endeavoring to pacify
the Indians and keep them from going on the war-path. I was
appointed as his special scout, and one morning he notified me
that he was going to Fort Harker and wished me to accompany
him as far Fort Zarah, thirty miles distant. The General usu-
ally traveled in an ambulance, but this trip he was to make
in a six-mule wagon, under the escort of a squad of twenty
infantry-men.

So, early one morning in August, we started, arriving safely
at Fort Zarah at twelve o'clock. General Hazen thought it
unnecessary that we should go father, and he proceeded on
his way to Fort Harker without an escort, leaving instructions
+H{?t we should '^'^turn to F'^^^ ^arned the p«vt day.

.130 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

After the General had gone I went to the sergeant m command
of the squad and told him that I was going back that very aft-
ernoon instead of waiting until the next morning ; and 1 accord-
ingly saddled up my mule and set out for Fort Larned. I pro-
ceeded uninterruptedly until I got about half-way between the
two posts, when at Pawnee Eock I was suddenly " jumped " by
about forty Indians, who came dashing up to me, extending their
hands and saying, ** How I How !'* They were some of the In-
dians who had been hanging around Fort Larned in the morning.
I saw they had on their war paint, and were evidently now out
on the war-path.

CAPTURED BY INDIANS.

My first impulse was to shake hands with them, as they seemed
so desirous of it. I accordingly reached out my hand to one of
them, who grasped it with a tight grip, and jerked me violently
forward ; another pulled my mule by the bridle, and in a mo-
ment I was completly surrounded. Before I could do anything
at all, they had seized my revolvers from the holsters, and I re-
ceived a blow on the head from a tomahawk which nearly ren-
dered me senseless. My gun, which was lying.across the saddle,
was snatched from its place, and finally the Indian who had hold
of the bridle started off towards the Arkansas river, leading the
mule, which was being lashed by the other Indians who were fol-
lowing. The savages were all singing, yelling and whooping, as
only Indians can do, when they are having their little game all
their own way. While looking towards the river I saw, on the
opposite side, an immense village moving down along the bank,
and then I became convinced that the Indians had left the post
and were now starting cut on the war-path. My captors crossed
the stream with me, and as we waded through the shallow water
they continued to lash the mule and myself. Finally they
brought me before an important looking body of Indians, who
proved to be chiefs and principal warriors. I soon recognized
old Satanta among them, as well as others whom I knew and 1
supposed it was all over with me.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

131

The Indians were jabbering away so rapidly among themselves
that I could not understand what they were saying. Satanta at
last asked me where I had been ; and as good luck would have
it, a happy thought struck me : I told him I had been after a herd
Cx cattle or *' whoa-haws," as they called them. It so happened
that the Indians had been out of meat for several weeks, as the
large herd of cattle which had been promised them had not yet
arrived, although expected by them.

A CLEVER RUSE SECURES MY ESCAPE.

The moment I mentioned that I had been searching for the
*' whoa-haws," old Santa began questioning me in a very eager

CAPTURED BY THE INDIANS.

manner. He asked me where the cattle were, and I replied that
they were back only a few miles, and that I had been sent by
General Hazen to inform him that the cattle were coming, and
that they were intended for his people. This seemed to please
the old rascal, who also wanted to know if there were any sol-
diers with the herd, and my reply was that there were. There-
upon the chiefs held a consultation, and presently Satanta asked

132 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

me if General Hazen had really said that they should have the
cattle. I replied in the affirmative, and added that I had been
directed to bring the cattle to them . I followed this up with a very
dignified inquiry, asking why his young men had treated me so.
The old wretch intimated that it was only * ' a freak of the boys ; ' '
that the young men wanted to see if I was brave; in fact, they
had only meant to test my bravery, and that the whole thing was
a joke.

The veteran liar was now beating me at my own game of
lying; but I was very glad of it, as it was in my favor. I did
not let him suspect that I doubted his veracity, but I remarked
that it was a rough way to treat friends. He immediately or-
dered his young men to give me back my arms and scolded them
for what they had done. Of course, the sly old dog was now
playing it very fine, as he was anxious to get possession of the
cattle, with which he believed '' there was a heap of soldiers
comino:." He had concluded it was not best tofiorht the soldiers
if he could get the cattle peaceably.

Another council was held by the chiefs and in a few minutes
old Satanta came and asked me if I would go over and bring the
cattle down to the opposite side of the river, so that they could
get them. I replied: **0f course; that's my instruction from
General Hazen."

Satanta said I must not feel angry at his young men, for they
had only been acting in fun. He tiien inquired if I wished any
of his men to accompany me to the cattle herd. I replied that
it would be better for me to go alone, and then the soldiers could
keep right on to Fort Larned, while I could drive the herd down
on the bottom. So, wheeling my mule around, I was soon re-
crossing the river, leaving old Satanta in the firm belief that I
had told him a straight story and was going for the cattle which
only existed in my imagmation.

1 hard^ knew what to do, but thought that if I could get the
river between the Indians and myself I would have a good three-
quarters of a mile the start of them, and could then make a run
for Fort Larned, as my mule was a good one.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 133

STRETCHING MY MULE.

Thus far my cattle story had panned out all right ; but just as
I reached the opposite bank of the river I looked behind and saw
that ten or fifteen Indians who h^id begun to suspect something
crooked were following me. The moment that my mule secured
a good foothold on the bank I urged him into a gentle lope
towards the place where, according to my statement, the cattle
were to be brought. Upon reaching a little ridge and riding down
the other side out of view, I turned my mule and headed him
westward for Fort Larned. I let him out for all that he was
worth, and when I came out on a little rise of ground I looked
back and saw the Indian village in plain sight. My pursuers
were now on the ridge which I had passed over and were looking
for me in every direction.

Presently they spied me, and seeing that I was running away
they struck out in swift pursuit, and in a few minutes it became
painfully evident that they were gaining on me. They kept up
the chase as far as Ash creek, six miles from Fort Larned. I
still led them half a mile, as their horses had not gained much
during the last half of the race. My mule seemed to have gotten
his second wind, and as I was on the old road I played the whip
and spurs on him without much cessation. The Indians like-
wise urged their steeds to the utmost.

Finally, upon reaching the dividing ridge between Ash creek
and Pawnee fork, I saw Fort Larned only four miles away. It
was now sundown and I heard the evening gun at the fort. The
troops of the little garrison little dreamed that there was a man
flying for his life from the Indians ^and trying to reach the post.
The Indians were once more gaining on me, and when I crossed
the Pawnee fork, two miles from the post, two or three of them
were only a quarter of a mile behind me. Just as I had gained
the opposite bank of the stream I was overjoyed to see some
soldiers in a government wagon only a short distance off. I
yelled at the top of my voice and, riding up to them, told them
that the Indians were after me.

134

STORT OF THE WILD WEST.

AMBUSHING THE PURSUERS.

Denver Jim, a well known scout, asked how many there were,
and upon my informing him that there were about a dozen, he said :
"Let's drive the wagon into the trees, and we'll lay for 'em.'*
The team was hurriedly driven in among the trees and low box-
elder bushes, and there secreted.

We did not have to wait long for the Indians, who came dash-
ing up, lashing their horses, which were panting and blowing.

We let two
of them
pass by, but
we opened a
lively fire
on the next
three or
four, killing
two at the
first crack.
The others
following,
discovered
that they
had run into
an ambush,
and whirl-
ing off into
the brush

A RATTLING SURPRISE FOR MY PURSUERS. theV tumcd

and ran back in the direction whence they had come. The two
who had passed heard the firing and made their escape. We
scalped the two that we had killed, and appropriated their arms
and equipments; and then catching their horses, we made our
way into the post. The soldiers had heard us firing, and as we
were approaching the fort the drums were being beaten, and the
buglers were sounding the call to full in. The officers thought

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 135

that Satanta and his Indians were coming in to capture the
fort.

It seems that on the morning of that day, two hours after
General Hazen had taken his departure, old Satanta drove into
the post in an ambulance, which he had received some months
before as a present from the government. He appeared to be
angry and bent on mischief. In an interview with Captain Par-
ker, the commanding officer, he asked why General Hazen had
left the post without supplying the beef cattle which he had
promised him. The Captain told him that the cattle were surely
on the road, but he could not explain why they were detained.

The interview proved to be a stormy one, and Satanta made
numerous threats, saying that if he wished, he could capture the
whole post with his warriors. Captain Parker, who was a brave
man, gave Satanta to understand that he was reckoning beyond
his powers, and would find it a more difficult undertaking than he
had any idea of, as they were prepared for him at any moment.
The interview finally terminated, and Satanta angrily left the
officer's presence. Going over to the sutler's store, he sold his am-
bulance to Mr. Tappan the post-trader, and with a portion of the
proceeds he secretly managed to secure some whisky from some
bad men around the fort. There are always to be found about
every frontier post some men who will sell whisky to the Indians
at any time and under any circumstances, notwithstanding it is a
flagrant violation of both civil and military regulations.

Satanta mounted his horse, and taking the whisky with him
he rode rapidly away and proceeded straight to his village. He
had not been gone over an hour, when he returned to the vicinity
of the post accompanied by his warriors who came in from every
direction, to the number of seven or eight hundred. It was evi-
dent that the irate old rascal was ** on his ear," so to speak, and
it looked as if he intended to carry out his threat of capturing
the fort. The garrison at once turned out and prepared to re-
ceive the red-skins, who, when within half a mile, circled around
the fort and fired nv serous shots into it, instead of trying to
take it by assault.

136 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

GOING ON THE WAR-PATH.

While this circular movement was going on, it was observed that
the Indian viUage in the distance was packing up, preparatory to
leaving, and it was soon under way. The mounted warriors re-
mained behind some little time, to give their families an opportu-
nity to get away, as they feared that the troops might possibly in
some manner intercept them. Finally, they encircled the post
several times, fired some farewell rounds, and then galloped away
over the prairie to overtake their fast departing village. On
their way thither, they surprised and killed a party of wood-
choppers down on the Pawnee fork, as well as some herders who
were guarding beef cattle ; some seven or eight men in all were
killed, and it was evident that the Indians meant business.

The soldiers with the wagon — whom I had met at the crossing
of the Pawnee fork — had been out for the bodies of the men.
Under the circumstances it was no wonder that the garrison,
upon hearing the reports of our guns when we fired upon the
party whom we ambushed, should have thought the Indians were
coming back to give them another '* turn.'^

We found that all was excitement at the post; double guards
had been put on duty, and Captain Parker had all the scouts at
his headquarters. He was endeavoring to get some one to take
some important dispatches to General Sheridan at Fort Hays.
I reported to him at once, and stated where I met the Indians
and how I had escaped from them.

*'You were very fortunate, Cody, in thinking of that cattle
story ; but for that little game your hair would now be an orna-
ment toaKiowa's lodge," said he.

Just then Dick Curtis spoke up and said: ** Cody, the Captain
is anxious to send some dispatches to General Sheridan, at Fort
Hays, and none of the scouts here seem to be very willing to un-
dertake the trip. They say they are not well enough acquainted
with the country to find the way at night."

A TERRIBLE DUTY.

As a storm was coming up it was quite dark, and the scouts
feared that they would lose the way ; besides, it was a dangerous

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BULLALO BILL. 137

ride, as a large party of Indians were known to be camped on
Walnut creek, on the direct road to Fort Hays. It was evident
that Curtis was trying to induce me to volunteer, so I made some
evasive answer to him for I did not care to volunteer after
my long day's ride. But Curtis did not let the matter drop.
Said he : —

** I wish, Bill, that you were not so tired by your chase of to-
day, for you know the country better than the rest of the boys,
and I am certain that you could go through."

*< As far as the ride to Fort Hays is concerned, that alone
would matter but little to me," I said, ** but it is a risky piece of
work just now, as the country is full of hostile Indians ; still, if no
other scout is willing to volunteer, I will chance it. I'll go, pro-
vided I am furnished with a good horse. I am tired of being
chased on a government mule by Indians." At this Captain
Nolan, who had been listening to our conversation, said: —

** Bill, you may have the best horse in my company. You
can take your choice if you will carry these dispatches. Although
it is against regulations to dismount an enlisted man, I have no
hesitancy in such a case of urgent necessity as this is, in telling
you that you may have any horse you may wish."

** Captain, your first sergeant has a splendid horse, and that's
the one I want. If he'll let me ride that horse, I'll be ready to
start in one hour, storm or no storm," said I.

<' Good enough, Bill; you shall have the horse; but are you
sure you can find your way on such a dark night as this ? ' '

'* I have hunted on nearly every acre of ground between here
and Fort Hays, and I can almost keep my route by the bones of
the dead buffaloes," I confidently replied,

** Never fear. Captain, about Cody not finding the way; he is
as good in the dark as he is in the daylight," said Curtis.

OFF IN THE DARK.

An orderly was sent for the horse, and the animal was soon
brought up, although the sergeant '« kicked " a little against let-
titior hii« oro. After eating a lunch and filling a canteen with

138

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

brandy, I went to headquarters and put my own saddle and
bridle on the horse I was to ride. I then got the dispatches, and
by ten o'clock was on the road to Fort Hays, which was sixty-five
miles distant across the country.

It was dark as pitch, but this I rather liked, as there was little
probability of any of the red-skins seeing me unless I stumbled
upon them accidentally. My greatest danger was that my horse
might run into a hole and fall down, and in this way get away

' from me. To avoid any such
accident,! tied one end of my raw-
hide lariat to the bridle and the
other end to my belt. I didn't
propose to be left on foot alone
but on the prairie.

It was, indeed, a wise precaution
that I had taken, for within the
next three miles the horse, sure
enough, stepped into a prairie-
dog's hole, and down he went,
throwing me clear over his head.
Springing to his feet, before I
could catch hold of the bridle, he
galloped away into the darkness ;
I but when he reached the full length
of the lariat, he found that he was
not so loose as he believed. I
INDIAN BURIAL PLACE. brought him up standing, and

after finding my gun, which had dropped to the ground, I went
up to him and in a moment was in the saddle again, and went on
my way rejoicing, keeping straight on my course until I came to
the ravines leading into Walnut creek, twenty-five miles from
Fort Larned, where the country became rougher, requiring me
to travel slower and more carefully, as I feared the horse might
fall over the bank, it being difficult to see anything five feet ahead.
As a good horse is not very apt to jump over a bank, if left to
guide himself, I let mine pick his own way. I was now proceed-

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 139

ing as quietly as possible, for I was in the vicinity of a band of
Indians who had recently camped in that locality. I thought that
I had passed somewhat above the spot, having made a little circuit
to the west with that intention ; but as bad luck would have it this
time, when I came up near the creek I suddenly rode in among a
herd of horses. The animals became frightened and ran off in
every direction.

STUMBLING ONTO A HORNETS' NEST.

I knew at once that I was among Indian horses, and had walked
into the wrong pew; so without waiting to apologize, I backed
out as quickly as possible. At this moment a dog, not fifty yards
away, set up a howl, and then I heard some Indians engaged in
conversation; — they were guarding the horses, and had been
sleeping. Hearing my horse's retreating footsteps towards the
hills, and thus becoming aware that there had been an enemy in
their camp, they mounted their steeds and started for me

I urged my horse to his full speed, taking the chances of his
falling into holes, and guided him up the creek bottom. The
Indians followed me as fast as they could by the noise I made,
but I soon distanced them, and then crossed the creek.

When I had traveled several miles in a straight course, as I
supposed, I took out my compass and by the light of a match saw
that I was bearing two points to the east of north. At once
changing my course to the direct route, I pushed rapidly on
through the darkness towards Smoky Hill river. At about three
o'clock in the morning I began traveling more cautiously, as I
was afraid of running into another band of Indians. Occasionally
I scared up a herd of buffaloes, or antelopes, or coyotes, or deer,
which would frighten my horse for a moment, but with the ex-
ception of these slight alarms I got along all right.

After crossing Smoky Hill river, I felt comparatively lafe as
this was the last stream I had to pass. Hiding on to the north-
ward I struck the old Santa Fe trail, ten miles from Fort Hays,
just at break of day.

My horse did not seem much fatigued, and being anxious to

140 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

make good time and get as near the post as possible before it was
fairly daylight, as there might be bands of Indians camped along
Big creek, I urged him forward as fast as he could go. As I
had not **lost*' any Indians, I was not now anxious to make
their acquaintance, and shortly after reveille vode into the post.
1 proceeded directly to General Sheridan's headquarters, and
was met at the door by Colonel Moore, aid-de-camp on General
Sheridan's staff, who asked me on what business I had come.

** I have dispatches for General Sheridan, and my instructions
from Captain Parker, commanding Fort Larned, are that they
shall be delivered to the General as soon as possible," said I.

Colonel Moore invited me into one of the offices, and said he
would hand the dispatches to the General as soon as he got up.

** I prefer to give these dispatches to General Sheridan myself,
and at once,'* was my reply.

The General, who was sleeping in the same building, hearing
our voices, called out, ** Send the man in with the dispatches."
I was ushered into the General's presence, and as we had met
before he recognized me and said : *' Hello, Cody, is that you?"

** Yes, sir; I have some dispatches here for you, from Captain
Parker," said T, as I handed the pnckage over to him.

He hurriedly read them, and said they were important; and
then he asked me all about General Hazen and where he had gone,
and about the breaking out of the Kiowas and Comanches. 1
gave him all the information that I possessed, and related the
events and adventures of the previous day and night.

AN INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN.

**Bill," said he, **you must have had a pretty lively ride.
You certainly had a close call when you ran into the Indians on
Walnut creek. That was a good joke that you played on old
Satanta. I suppose you're pretty tired after your long journey ?'^

*' I am rather weary, General, that's a fact, as I have been in
the saddle since yesterday morning;" was my reply, ** but my
horse U more tired thdn I am, and needs attention fully as much

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

141

if not mr^re," I added. Thereupon the General called an orderly
and gave Instructions to have my animal well taken care of, and
then he said, ** Cody, come in and have some breakfast with me."

*' No, thank you, General,'* said I, ** Hays City is only a mile
from here, and I prefer riding over there, as I know about every
one in the town, and want to see some of my friends."

*« Very well; do as you please, and come to the post after-
wards as I want to see you," said he.

Bidding him good-mcrning,
and telling him that I would re-
turn in a few hours, J rode over
to Hays City, and at the Perry
House I met many of my old
friends who were of course all
glad to see me. I took some re-
freshments and a two Lours' nap,
and afterward returned to Fort
Hays, as I was requested.

As I rode up to the headquart-
ers I noticed several scouts in a
little group, evidently engaged in
conversation on some important
matter. Upon inquirj^ I learned
that General Sheridan had in-
formed them that he was desirous
of sending a dispatch to Fort
Dodge, a distance of ninety-five
miles.

The Indians had recently killed two or three men while they
were carrying dispatches between Fort Hays and Fort Dodge,
and on this account none of the scouts seemed at all anxious to
volunteer, although a reward of several hundred dollars was
offered to any one who would carry the dispatches. They had
learned of my experiences of the previous day, and asked me if
I did net think it would be a dangerous trip. I gave it as my
opinion that a man might possibly go through without seeing an

AN EARLY CALL ON SHERIDAN.

142 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

Indian, but that the chances were ten to one that he would have
an exceedingly lively run and a hard time before he reached hi8
destination, if he ever got there at all.

A LONG RIDE.

Leaving the scouts to decide among themselves as to who was
to go, I reported to General Sheridan, who also informed me
that he wished some one to carry dispatches to Fort Bodge.
While we were talking, his chief of scouts, Dick Parr, entered
and stated that none of the scouts had yet volunteered. Upon
hearing this I got my " brave " up a little, and said: '* General,
if there is no one ready to volunteer, I'll carry your dispatches
myself."

" I had not thought of asking you to do this duty, Cody, as
you are already pretty hard worked. But it is really important
that these dispatches should go through," said the General.

*« Well, if you don't get a courier by four o'clock this after-
noon, I'll be ready for business at that time. All I want is a
fresh horse," said I; ''meantime I'll take a little more rest."

It was not much of a rest, however, that I got, for I vv ent
over to Hays City again and had *' a time with the boys." I
came back to the post at the appointed hour, and finding that
no one had volunteered, I reported to General Sheridan. He
had selected an excellent horse for me, and on handing me the
dispatches, he said: ** You can start as soon as you wish — the
sooner the better; and good luck go with you, my boy."

In about an hour afterwards I was on the road, and just before
dark I crossed Smoky Hill river. I had not yet urged my horse
much, as I was saving his strength for the latter end of the
route, and for any run that I might have to make in case the
" wild-boys " should *' jump " me. So far I had not seen a sign
of Indians, and as evening came on I felt comparatively safe.

I had no adventures worth relating during the night, and just
before daylight I found myself approaching Saw-log crossing,
on the Pawnee fork, having then ridden about seventy miles.
A company of colored cavalry, commanded by Major Cox,

ACTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

143

was stationed at this point, and I approached their camp
cautiously, for fear that the pickets might fire upon me — as the
darkey soldiers were liable to shoot first and cry **halt" after-
wards. When within hearing distance I yelled out at the top of
my voice, and was answered by one of the pickets. I told him
not to shoot, as I was ai

scout from Fort Hays;
and then, calling the ser-
geant of the guard, I went
up to the vidette of the
post, who readily recog-
nized me. I entered the
camp and proceeded to the
tent of Major Cox, to
whom I handed a letter
from General Sheridan
requesting him to give me
a fresh horse . He at once
complied with the request.
After I had slept an hour
and had eaten a lunch, IP
again jumped into the |
saddle, and before sunrise
I was once more on the
road. It was twenty-five '
miles to Fort Dodge, andj
I arrived there between
nine and ten o'clock, with-|
out having seen a single
Indian.

After delivering the
dispatches to the com-
manding officer, I met Johnny Austin, chief of scouts at this post,
who was an old friend of mine. Upon his invitation I took a nap
at his house, and when I awoke, fresh for business once more, he
informed me that the Indians had been all around the post for the

READY FOR BUSINESS.

144 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

past two or three days, running off cattle and horses, and occasion-
ally killing a stray man. It was a wonder to him that I had
met with none of the red-skins on the way there. The Indians,
he said, were also very thick on the Arkansas river, between
Fort Dodge and Fort Larned, and making considerable trouble.
Fort Dodge was located sixty- five miles west of Fort Larned, the
latter post being on the Pawnee fork, about five miles from its
junction with the Arkansas river.

A DANGEROUS UNDERTAKING.

The commanding officer at Fort Dodge was anxious to send
some dispatches to Fort Larned, but the scouts, like those at
Fort Hays, were rather backward about volunteering, as it was
considered a very dangerous undertaking to make the trip. As
Fort Larned was my post, and as I wanted to go there anyhow,
I said to Austin that I would carry the dispatches, and if any of
the boys wished to go along, I would like to have them for com-
pany's sake. Austin reported my offer to the commanding offi-
cer, who sent for me and said he would be happy to have me take
his dispatches, if I could stand the trip on top of all that I had
already done. " All I want is a good fresh horse, sir," said I.

** I am sorry to say that we haven't a decent horse here, but
we have a reliable and honest government mule, if that Vt^ill do
you," said the officer. *' Trot out your mule," said I, ** that's
good enough for me. I am ready at any time, sir."

The mule was forthcoming, and at dark I pulled out for Fort
Larned, and' proceeded uninterruptedly to Coon creek, thirty
miles out from Dodge. I had left the main wagon road some
distance to the south, and had traveled parallel with it, thinking
this to be a safer course, as the Indians might be lying in wait on
the main road for dispatch bearers and scouts.

At Coon creek I dismounted and led the mule by the bridle
down to the water, where I took a drink, using my hat for a dip-
per. While I was engaged in getting the water, the mule jerked
loose and struck out down the creek. I followed him in hopes
that he would catch his foot in the bridle-rein and stop, but this

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 145

he seemed to have no idea of doing. He was making straight
for the wagon road, and I did not know what minute he might
run into a band of Indians. He finally got on the road, but in-
stead of going back toward Fort Dodge, as I naturally expected
he would do, he turned eastward toward Fort Larned, and kept
up a little jog trot just ahead of me, but would not let me come
up to him, although I tried it again and again. I had my gun in
my hand, and several times I was strongly tempted to shoot him,
and would probably have done so had it not been for fear of
bringing Indians down upon me, and besides he was carrying the
saddle for me. So I trudged on after the obstinate <* critter,"
and if there ever was a government mule that deserved and re-
ceived a good round cursing it was that one. I had neglected
the precaution of tying one end of my lariat to his bit and the
other to my belt, as I had done a few nights before, and I
blamed myself for this gross piece of negligence.

A PROVOKING MULE.

Mile after mile I kept on after that mule, and every once in a
while I indulged in strong language respecting the whole mule
fraternity. From Coon creek to Fort Larned it was thirty-five
miles, and I finally concluded that my prospects were good for
«* hoofing" the whole distance. We — that is to say, the con-
founded mule and myself — were making pretty good time.
There was nothing to hold the mule, and I was all the time try-
ing to catch him — which urged him on. I made every step
count, for I wanted to reach Fort Larned before daylight, in or-
der to avoid if possible the Indians, to whom it would have been
*' pie " to have caught me there on foot.

The mule stuck to the road and kept on for Larned, and I did
the same thing. Just as day was beginning to break, we — that
is the mule and myself — found ourselves on a hill looking down
into the valley of the Pawnee fork, in which Fort Larned was
located, only four miles away; and when the morning gun
belched forth we were within half a mile of the post.

*' Now," said I, ** Mr. Mule, it is my turn," and raising my

146

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

gun to my shoulder, in *< dead earnest'* this time, I blazed

away, hitting the animal in the
hip. Throwing a second cart-
ridge into the gun, I let him
have another shot, and I con-
tinued to pour the lead into him
until I had him completely laid
out. Like the great majority
of government mules, he was a
tough one to kill, and he clung
to life with all the tenaciousness
of his obstinate nature. He
was, without doubt, the
toughest and meanest mule I
ever saw, and he died hard.

The troops, hearing the re-
ports of the gun, came rushing
out to see what was the matter.
They found that the mule had
passed in his chips, and when
they learned the cause they all
agreed that I had served him
just right. Taking the saddle
and bridle from the dead body,
I proceeded into the post and
delivered the dispatches to
Captain Parker. I then went
over to Dick Curtis' house,
which was headquarters for the
scouts, and there put in several
hours of solid sleep.

During the day General Hazen
returned from Fort Harker,
and he also had some important
PLAGUED BY A MOLE. dispatchcs to scud to General

fcJheridan. I was feeling quite elated over my big ride; and see*

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 147

ing that I was getting the best of the other scouts in regard to
making a record, I volunteered to carry General Hazen's dis-
patches to Fort Hays. The General accepted my services,
although he thought it was unnecessary for me to kill myself.
I told him that I had business at Fort Hays, and wished to go
there anyway, and it would make no difference to the other
scouts, for none of them appeared willing to undertake the trip.

Accordingly, that night I left Fort Larned on an excellent
horse, and next morning at daylight found myself once more in
General Sheridan's headquarters at Fort Hays. The General
was surprised to see me, and still more so when I told him of
the time I had made in riding to Fort Dodge, and that I had
taken dispatches from Fort Dodge to Fort Larned; and when,
m addition to this, I mentioned my journey of the night previous.
General Sheridan thought my ride from post to post, taken as a
whole, was a remarkable one, and he said that he did not know
of its equal. I can safely say that I have never heard of its
being beaten in a country infested with hostile Indians.

To recapitulate: I had ridden from Fort Larned to Fort
Zarah (a distance of sixty-five miles) and back in twelve hours,
including the time when I was taken across the Arkansas by the
Indians. In the succeeding twelve hours I had gone from Fort
Larned to Fort Hays, a distance of sixty-five miles. In the next
twenty-four hours I had gone from Fort Hays to Fort Dodge, a
distance of ninety-five miles. The following night I had trav-
eled from Fort Dodge thirty miles on muleback and thirty-five
miles on foot to Fort Larned ; and the next night sixty-five miles
more to Fort Hays. Altogether I had ridden (and walked) 355
miles in fifty-eight riding hours, or an average of over six miles
an hour. Of course, this may not be regarded as very fast rid-
ing, but taking into consideration the fact that it was mostly
done in the night and over a wild country, with no roads to fol-
low, and that I had to be continually on the look-out for Indians,
it was thought at the time to be a big ride, as well as a most
dangerous one.

148

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

CHAPTER X.

MY APPOINTMENT AS CHIEF OF SCOUTS.

^ ENERAL SHERIDAN highly compli-
mented me for what I had done and
informed me that I need not report
back to General Hazen, as he had
more important work for me to do.
He told me that the Fifth Cavalry —
one of the finest regiments in the
army — was on its way to the Depart-
ment of the Missouri, and that he was
going to send it on an expedition
against the Dog Soldier Indians, who
weie infesting the Republican river
region.

" Cody," continued he, ** I have decided to appoint you as
guide and chief of scouts with the command. How does that
suit you?"

" First-rate, General, and I thank you for the honor," I re-
plied, as gracefully as I knew how.

The Dog Soldier Indians were a band of Cheyennes and unruly,
turbulent members of other tribes, who would not enter into any
treaty, or keep a treaty if they made one, and who had always
refused to go upon a reservation. They were a warlike body of
well built, daring and restless braves, and were determined to
hold possession of the country in the vicinity of the Republican
and Solomon rivers. They were called *' Dog Soldiers " because
they were principally Cheyennes — a name derived from the
French chien, a dog.

eCOUTINQ.

On the third day of October the Fifth Cavalry arrived at Fort
Hays, and I at once began making the acquaintance of the dif '

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

149

ferent officers of the regiment. I was introduced by General
Sheridan to Colonel William Koyal, who was in command of the
regiment. He was a gallant officer and an agreeable and pleasant
gentleman. He was afterwards stationed at Omaha as Inspector-
General in the Department of the Platte. I also became
acquainted with Major W. H. Brown, Major Walker, Captain
Sweetman, Quartermaster E. M. Hays, and in fact all the officers
of the regiment.

General Sheridan, being anxious to punish the Indians who
bad lately fought General Forsyth, did not give the regiment

GOVERNMENT MULE TEAM.

much of a rest, and accordingly on the 5th of October it began
its march for the Beaver creek country. The first night we
camped on the south fork of Big creek, four miles west of Hays
City. By this time I had become pretty well acquainted with
Major Brown and Captain Sweetman, who invited me to mess
with them on this expedition, and a jolly mess we had. There
were other scouts in the command besides myself and I particu-
larly remember Tom Eenahan, Hank Fields and a character
called "Nosey " on account of his long nose.

On the morning of the 6th we pulled out to the north, and
during the day I was very favorably struck with the appearance

150 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

of the regiment. It was a beautiful command and when strung
out on the prairie with a train of seventy-five six-mul-^- wagons,
ambulances and pack-mules, I felt very proud of my position as
guide and chief of scouts of such a warlike expedition.

Just as we were about to go into camp on the Saline river that
night, we ran on to a band of about fifteen Indians, who, seeing
us, dashed across the creek, followed by some bullets which we
sent after them ; but as the small band proved to be a scouting
party, we pursued them only a mile or two, when our attention
was directed to a herd of buffaloes, which we immediately pur-
sued and killed ten or fifteen for the command.

The next day we marched thirty miles, and late in the after-
noon we went into camp on the South fork of the Solomon. At
this encampment Colonel Royal asked me to go out and kill some
buffaloes for the boys.

*' All right. Colonel, send along a wagon or two to bring in the
meat," I said.

** I am not in the habit of sending out my wagons until I know
that there is something to be hauled in ; kill your buffaloes first
and then I'll send out the wagons," was the Colonel's reply. I
said no more, but went out on a hunt, and after a short absence
returned and asked the Colonel to send his wagons over the hill
for the half dozen buffaloes I had killed.

BRINGING LIVE BUFFALOES INTO CAMP.

The following afternoon he again requested me to go out and
get some fresh buffalo meat. I didn't ask him for any wagons
this time, but rode out some distance, and coming up with a small
herd, I managed to get seven of them headed straight for the en-
campment, and instead of shooting them just then, I ran them at
full speed right into the camp, and then killed them all, one after
the other in rapid succession. Colonel Royal witnessed the whole
proceeding, which puzzled him somewhat, as he could see no
reason why I had not killed ihem on the prairie. He came up
rather angrily, and demanded an explanation. * ' I can't allow any
such business as this, Cody,* * said he, * * what do you mean by it ? "

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

151

** I didn't care about asking for any wagons this time, Colonel ;
80 I thought I would make the buffaloes furnish their own trans-
portation/' was my reply. The Colonel saw the point in a mo-
ment, and had no more to say on the subject.

No Indians had been seen in the vicinity during the day and
Colonel Royal having carefully posted his pickets, supposed every-
thing was serene for the night. But before morning we were
aroused from our slumbers by hearing shots fired, and immediately
afterwar<^9 one of the mounted pickets came galloping into camp.

BRINGING LIVE MEAT INTO CAMP.

saying that there were Indians close at hand. The companies ail
fell into line, and were soon prepared and anxious to give the red-
skins battle ; but as the men were yet new in the Indian country a
great many of them were considerably excited. No Indians, how-
ever, made their appearance, and upon going to the picket-post
where the picket said he «een them none could be found, nor could
any traces of them be discovered. The sentinel, — who was an
Irishman, — insisted that there certainly had been red-skins
there.

152

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

rKEQG^

A SCARED IRISHMAN.

*'But you must be mistaken," said Colonel Eoyal.
**Upon me sowl, Colonel, I'm not; as shure ez me name's
Pat Maloney, one of thim rid divils hit me on the head wid a
club, so he did," said Pat; and so, when morning came, the mys-
tery was further investigated and was easily solved. Elk tracks
were found in the vicinity and it was undoubtedly a herd of elks

, that had frightened Pat ; as he
had turned to run, he had gone
under a limb of a tree, against
which he hit his head, and sup-
posed he had been struck by a
club in the hands of an Indian.
It was hard to convince Pat
however, of the truth.

A three days' uninteresting
march brought us to Beaver
creek where we camped aiu!
from which point scoutin^L^
parties were sent out in different
directions. Neither of these,
however, discovering Indians
they all returned to camp about
the same time, finding it in a
state of great excitement, it
having: been attacked a few
hours previous by a party of
Indians, who had succeeded in killing two men and in making off
with sixty horses belonging to Co. H.

That evenin*: the command started on the trail of these Indian
horse-thieves ; Major Brown with two companies and three days
rations pushing ahead in advance of the main command. Being
unsuccessful, however, in overtaking the Indians, and getting
nearly out of provisions — it being our eighteenth day out — the
entire command marched towards the nearest railroad point, and

MONUMENT ON CUSTER
BATTLE GROUND.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL 153

camped on the Saline river, distant three miles from Buffalo
Tank. While waiting for supplies we received a new commanding
officer, Brevet Major-General E. A. Carr, who was the senior
major of the regiment, and who ranked Colonel Royal. He
brought with him the now celebrated Forsyth scouts, who were
commanded by Lieutenant Pepoon, a regular-army officer.

It was also while waiting in this camp that Major Brown received
a new lieutenant to fill a vacancy in his company. On the day that
this officer was to arrive, Major Brown had his private ambulance
brought out, and invited me to accompany him to the railroad
station to meet his lieutenant, whose name was A. B. Bache. He
proved to be a fine gentleman, and a brave, dashing officer. On
the way to the depot Major Brown had said, '* Now, Cody, when
we come back we'll give Bache a lively ride and shake him up a
little."

A LIVELY SHAKING UP.

Major Brown was a jolly good fellow, but sometimes he would
get *« a little off," and as this was one of his ** off days " he was
bound to amuse himself in some original and mischievous way.
Keaching the depot just as the train came in, we easily found the
Lieutenant, and giving him the back seat in the ambulance we
were soon headed for camp.

Pretty soon Major Brown took the reins from his driver, and
at once began whipping the mules. After getting them into a
lively gallop he pulled out his revolver and fired several shots.
The road was terribly rough and the night was so dark that we
could hardly see where we were going. It was a wonderful
piece of luck that we were not tipped over and our necks broken.
Finally Bache said, good-humoredly :

** Is this the way you break in all your Lieutenants, Major? "

*'0h, no; I don't do this as a regular thing, but it's the way
we frequently ride in this country," said the Major; *' just keep
your seat, Mr. Bache, and we'll take you through on time."
The Major appropriated the reply of the old California stage-
driver. Hank Monk, to Horace Greely.

We were now rattling down a steep hill at full speed, and just

154 STORY OP THE WILD WEST.

as we reached the bottom, the front wheels struck a deep ditch
over which the mules had jumped. We were all brought up
standing by the sudden stoppage of the ambulance. Major
Brown and myself were nearly pitched out on the wheels, while
the Lieutenant came flying headlong from the back seat to the
front of the vehicle.

♦* Take a back seat, Lieutenant," coolly said Major Brown.

** Major, I have just left that seat," said Bache.

We soon lifted the wagon out of the ditch, and then resumed
our drive, running into camp under full headway, and creating
considerable amusement. Every one recognized the ambulance
and knew at once that Major Brown and I were out on a ** lark,"
and therefore there was not much said about our exploit. Halt-
ing with a grand flourish in front of his tent. Major Brown
jumped out in his most gallant style and politely asked his lieu-
tenant in. A very pleasant evening was spent there, quite a
number of the officers calling to make the acquaintance of the
new officer, who entertained the visitors with an amusing account
of the ride from the depot.

Next morning at an early hour, the command started out on a
hunt for Indians. General Carr having a pretty good idea where
he would be most likely to find them, directed me to guide him
by the nearest route to Elephant Rock on Beaver creek.

IN SEARCH OF INDIANS.

Upon arriving at the south fork of the Beaver on the second
day's march, we discovered a large, fresh Indian trail which we
hurriedly followed for a distance of eight miles, when suddenly
we saw on the bluffs ahead of us, quite a large number of
Indians.

General Carr ordered Lieutenant Pepoon's scouts and Com-
pany M to the front. This company was commanded by Lieu-
tenant Schinosky, a Frenchman by birth and a reckless dare-devil
by nature, who was anxious to have a hair -lifting match.
Having advanced his company nearly a mile ahead of the main
command, about four hundred Indians suddenly charged down

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

155

upon him and gave him a lively
little fight, until he was sup-
ported by oui^ full force.

The Indians kept increasing in
numbers all the while until it
was estimated that we were fight-
ing from eight hundred to one
thousand of them. The engage-
ment became quite general, and
several were killed and wounded
on each side. The Indians were
evidently fighting to give their
families and village a chance to
get away. We had undoubtedly
surprised them with a larger
force than they had expected to
see in that part of the country.
We fought them until dark, all
the time driving them before us.
At night they annoyed us con-
siderably by firing down into our
camp from the higher hills, and
several times the command was
ordered out to dislodge them
from their position and drive
them back.

After having returned from
one of these little sallies, Major
Brown, Captain Sweet man,
Lieutenant Bache and myself
were taking supper together,
when * ' whang ! ' ' came a bullet
into Lieutenant Bache' s plate,
breaking a hole through it. The
bullet came from the gun of one
of the Indians, who had re-
turned to the high bluff overlopk-

A CRACK SHOT.

156 aiORT OP THE WILD WEST.

ing our camp. Major Brown declared it was a crack shot, be-
cause it broke the plate. We finished our supper without having
any more such close calls.

At dayught next morning we struck out on the trail, and soon
came to the spot where the Indians had camped the day before.
We could see that their village was a very large one, consisting
of about ^ye hundred lodges ; and we pushed forward rapidly
from this point on the trail which ran back toward Prairie Dog
creek.

About two o'clock we came in sight of the retreating village,
and soon the warriors turned back to give us battle. They set
fire to the prairie grass in front of us, and on all sides, in order
to delay us as much as possible. We kept up a running fight for
the remainder of the afternoon, and the Indians repeatedly at-
tempted to lead us off the track of their flying village, but their
trail was easily followed, as they were continually dropping tepee
poles, camp kettles, robes, furs and all heavy articles belonging
to them. They were evidently scattering, and it finally became
difficult for U3 to keep on the main trail. When darkness set in,
we went into camp, it being useless to try to follow the Indians
after nightfall.

Next morning we were again on the trail, which led north and
back towards Beaver creek, which stream it crossed within a
few miles of the spot where we had first discovered the Indians,
they having made nearly a complete circle, in hopes of mislead
ing us. Late in the afternoon, we again saw them going over a
hill far ahead of us, and towards evening the main body of war-
riors came back and fought us once more ; but we continued to
drive them until darkness set in, when we camped for the night.

The Indians soon scattered in every direction, but we followed
the main trail to the Republican river, where we made a cut-off,
and then went north towards the Platte river. We found, how-
ever, that the Indians by traveling night and day had got a long
start, and the General concluded that it was useless to follow
them any further, as we had pushed them so hard, and given
them such a scare tha,t they would leave the Republican country

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 157

and go north across the Union Pacific railroad. Most of the In-
dians, as he had predicted, did cross the Platte river, near
Ogalalla, on the Union Pacific, and thence continued northward.
That night we returned to the Kepublican river and camped in
a grove of cottonwoods, which I named Carr's Grove, in honor of
the commanding oflScer.

OUT IN A DRY COUNTRY.

The General told me that the next day's march would be
towards the head- waters of the Beaver, and he asked me the dis-
tance. I replied that it was about twenty-five miles, and he said
he would make it the next day. Getting an early start in the
morning, we struck out across the prairie, my position as guide
being ahead of the advance guard. About two o'clock General
Carr overtook me, and asked how far I supposed it was to water.
I thought it was about eight miles, although we could see no
sign or indication of any stream in our front.

** Pepoon's scouts say you are going in the wrong direction,"
said the General, *' and in the way you are bearing it will be fif-
teen miles before you can strike any of the branches of the
Beaver; and that when you do, you will find no water, for the
Beavers are dry at this time of the year at that point."

<* General, I think the scouts are mistaken," said I, ** for the
Beaver has more water near its head than it has below ; and at
the place where we will strike the stream we will find immense
beaver dams, large enough and strong enough to cross the whole
command, if you wish."

** Well, Cody, go ahead," said he, ^'I'U leave it to you, but
remember that I don't want a dry camp."

** No danger of that," said I, and then I rode on, leaving him
to return to the command. As I had predicted, we found water
seven or eight miles further on, where we came upon a beautiful
little stream — a tributary of the Beaver — hidden in the hills-
We had no difficulty in selecting a good halting place, and obtain-
ing fresh spring water and excellent grass. The General, upon
learning from me that the stream — which was only eight or nine

158 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

miles long — had no name, took out his map and located tc and
named it Cody's creek, which name it still bears.

SURPRISED BY INDIANS.

We pulled out early next morning for the Beaver, and when
we were approaching the stream I rode on ahead of the advance
guard, in order to find a crossing. Just as I turned a bend of
the creek ** bang I " went a shot, and down went my horse — my-
self with him. I disentangled myself, and jumped behind the
dead body. Looking in the direction whence the shot had
come I saw two Indians, and at once turned my gun loose on
them, but in the excitement of the moment I missed my aim.
They fired two or three more shots, and I returned the compli-
ment, wounding one of their horses.

On the opposite side of the creek, going over the hill, I ob-
served a few lodges moving rapidly away, and also some mounted
ivarriors, who could see me, and who kept blazing away with
their guns. The two Indians who had fired at me and had killed
my horse were retreating across the creek on a beaver-dam. I
sent a few shots after them to accelerate their speed, and also
fired at the ones on the other side of the stream. I was unde-
cided as to whether it was best to run back to the command on
foot or hold my position. I knew that within a few minutes the
troops would come up, and I therefore decided to hold my position.
The Indians, seeing that I was alone, turned and charged down
the hill, and were about to re-cross the creek to corral me, when
the advance guard of the command put in an appearance on the
ridge, and dashed forward to my rescue. The red-skins whirled
and made off.

When General Carr came up, he ordered Company I to go in
pursuit of the band. I accompanied Lieutenant Brady, who
commanded, and we had a running fight with the Indians, lasting
several hours. We captured several head of their horses and
most of their lodges. At night we returned to the command,
which by this time had crossed the creek on the beaver-dam.

We scouted for several days along the river, and had two or

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

159

three lively skirmishes. Finally our supplies began to run low,
and General Carrgave orders to return to Fort Wallace, which we
reached three days afterwards, and where we remained several days.
While the regiment was waiting here for orders, I spent most
of the time in hunting buffaloes, and one day, while I was out
with a small party, we were '* jumped '* by about fifty Indians.
We had a severe fight for at least an hour, when we succeeded in
driving the enemy. They lost four of their warriors, and proba-

FLIGHT OP THE INDIANS.

bly concluded that we were a hard crowd. I had some excellent
marksmen with me, and they did some fine work, sending the
bullets thick and fast where they would do the most good. Two
cr three of , our horses had been hit, and one man had been
wounded ; we were ready and willing to stay with the red- skins
as long as they wished — but they finally gave it up, however, as
a bad job, and rode off. We finished our hunt, and went back to
the post loaded down w?th buffalo meat, and received the com-
pliment of the General for our little fight.

160

aXORY OF THE WILD WEST

CHAPTER XI.

A HARD WINTER 8 CAMPAIGN.

ERY soon after our fight on Beaver creek,
Gen. Carr received orders from Gen.
Sheridan for a winter's campaign in
the Canadian river country, instructing
him to proceed at once to Fort Lyon,
Colorado, and there to fit out for the ex-
pedition. Leaving Fort Wallace in No-
vember, 1868, we arrived at Fort Lyon
in the latter part of the month without
^ special incident, and at once began our
preparations for invading the enemy's
country.

General Penrose had left this post three
weeks previously with a command of
^me three hundred men. He had taken no wagons with him
aad his supply train was composed only of pack mules. General
Carr was ordered to follow with supplies on his trail and over-
take him as soon as possible. I was particularly anxious to
caich up with Penrose's command, as my old friend, Wild Bill,
wa*3 among his scouts. We followed the trail very easily for the
fiist three days, and then we were caught in Freeze-Out canyon
by £w fearful snow storm, which compelled us to go into camp for
a day. The ground now being covered with snow, we found that
it wotiid be impossible to follow Penrose's trail any further,
especially as he had left no sign to indicate the direction he was
going. General Carr sent for me and said that as it was very
importdnt that we should not lose the trail, he wished that I
would take some scouts with me, and while the command re-
mained i*i camp, push on as far as possible and see if I could not
discover ksome traces of Penrose or where he had camped at any
time.

CHIEF JOSEPH OF THE NEZ PERCES, OR HIN-MAH-TOO-YAH-

LAT-KEKT,

THE INDIAN XENOPHON
Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution.

HOLLOW HOEN BEAE, SIOUX CHIEF.
Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution.

CHIEF GALL,

WAR-CHIEF OF THE SIOUX,

Photo by D. F. Barry.

NELLIE JUMPING EAGLE, OGALALLA SIOUX.
Courtesy of Field Museum.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 161

Accompanied by four men I started out in the blinding snow
storm, taking a southerly direction. We rode twenty-four miles,
and upon reaching a tributary of the Cimarron, we scouted up
and down the stream for a few miles and finally found one of
Penrose's old camps. It was now late in the afternoon, and as
the command would come up the next day, it was not necessary
for all of us to return with the information to General Carr.
So riding down into a sheltered place in a bend of the creek, we
built a fire and broiled some venison from a deer which we had
shot during the day, and after eating a substantial meal I left
the four men there, while I returned to bring up the troops.

It was eleven o'clock at night when I got back to the camp.
A light was still burning in the General's tent, he having re-
mained awake, anxiously awaiting my return. He was glad to
see me, and was overjoyed at the information I brought, for he
he had great fears concerning the safety of General Penrose.
He roused up his cook and ordered him to get me a good hot
supper, all of which I greatly appreciated. I passed the night
in the General's tent, and next morning rose refreshed and pre-
pared for a big day's work.

A ROUGH MARCH.

The command took up its march next day for the Cimarron,
and had a hard tramp of it on account of the snow having drifted
to a great depth in many of the ravines, and in some places the
teamsters had to shovel their way through. We arrived at the
Cimarron at sundown, and went into a nice warm camp. Upon
looking around next morning, we found that Penrose, having been
unencumbered by wagons, had kept on the west side of the Cim-
arron, and the country was so rough that it was impossible for
us to stay on his trail with our wagons ; but knowing that he
would certainly follow down the river. General Carr concluded
to take the best wagon route along the stream, which I discov-
ered to be on the east side. Before we could make any headway
with our wagon train we had to leave the river and get out on the
divide. We were very fortunate that day in finding a splendid

162 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

road for some distance, until we were all at once brought up stand-
ing on a high table-land, overlooking a beautiful winding creek
that lay far below us in the valley. The question that troubled
us was how we were to get the wagons down. We were now
in the foot-hills of the Kattoon mountains, and the bluff we were
on was very steep.

** Cody, we're in a nice fix now," said General Carr.

" Oh, that's nothing," was my reply.

"But you can never take the train down," said he.

** Never you mind the train. General. You say you are look-
ing for a good camp. How does that beautiful spot down in the
valley suit you?" I asked him.

'* That will do. I can easily descend with the cavalry, but how
to get the wagons down there is a puzzler to me," said he.

** By the time you've located your camp, your wagons shall be
there," said I.

** All right, Cody, I'll leave it to you, as you seem to want to
be boss," he replied pleasantly. He at once ordered the com-
mand to dismount and lead the horses down the mountain-side.
The wagon train was a mile in the rear, and when it came up, one
of the drivers asked: ** How are we going down there?"

*« Run down, slide down or fall down — any way to get down,"
said I.

*' We never can do it; it's too steep; the wagons will run over
the mules," said another wagon-master.

" I guess not; the mules have got to keep out of the way,"
was my reply.

I told Wilson, the chief wagon-master, to bring on his mess-
wagon, which was at the head of the train, and I would try the
experiment at least. Wilson drove the team and wagon to the
brink of the hill, and following my directions he brought out some
extra chains with which we locked both wheels on each side, and
then rough-locked them. We now started the wagon down the
hill . The wheel-horses — or rather the wheel-mules — were gO( )d
on the hold-back, and we got along finely until we nearly reached
the bottom, when the wagon crowded the mules so hard that they

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL 163

started on a run and galloped down into the valley and to the
place where General Carr had located his camp. Three other
wagons immediately followed in the same way, and in half an
hour every wagon was in camp, without the least accident having
occurred. It was indeed an exciting sight to see the six-mule
teams come straight down the mountain and finally break into a
full run. At times it looked as if the wagons would turn a
somersault and land on the mules.

This proved to be a lucky march for us, as far as gaining on
Penrose was concerned, for the route he had taken on the west
side of the stream turned out to be a bad one, and we went with
our immense wagon-train as far in one day as Penrose had in
seven. His command had marched on to a plateau or high table-
land so steep that not even a pack-mule could descend it, and he
was obliged to retrace his steps a long ways, thus losing three
days' time, as we afterwards learned.

A TURKEY HUNT WITH CLUBS.

While in this camp we had a lively turkey hunt. The trees
along the banks of the stream were literally alive with wild
turkeys, and after unsaddling the horses between two and three
hundred soldiers surrounded a grove of timber and had a grand
turkey round-up, killing four or ^ve hundred of the birds, with
guns, clubs and stones. Of course, we had turkey in every style
after this hunt — roast turkey, boiled turkey, fried turkey,
" turkey on toast," and so on; and we appropriately called this
place Camp Turkey.

From this point on, for several days, we had no trouble in
following Penrose's trail, which led us in a southeasterly direction
towards the Canadian river. No Indians were seen nor any signs
of them found. One day, while riding in advance of the com-
mand, down San Francisco creek, I heard some one calling my
name from a little bunch of willow brush on the opposite bank,
and, upon looking closely at the spot, I saw a negro.

* ' Sakes alive I Massa Bill, am dat you ? " asked the man, whom
I recognized as one of the colored soldiers of the Tenth Cavalry.

164 STOBT OF THE WILD WEST.

I next heard him say to some one in the brush: " Come out o*
heah. Dar's Massa Buffalo Bill." Then he sang out : *« Massa
Bill, is you got any hawd tack? "

"Nary a hardtack; but the wagons will be along presently
and then you can get all you want,** said I.

** Dat's de best news I'se heerd foah sixteen long days, Massa
Bill," said he.

** Where's your command? Where's General Penrose?" I asked.

** I dunno," said the darkey; *' we got lost and we's been a
starvin' eber since."

By this time two other negroes had emerged from their place
of concealment. They had deserted Penrose's command — which
was out of rations and nearly in a starving condition — and were
trying to make their way back to Fort Lyon. General Carr
concluded, from what they could tell him, that General Penrose
was somewhere on Palladora creek ; but we could not learn any-
thing definite from the starved «* mokes," for they knew not
where they were themselves.

RESCUE OF A STARVING COMMAND.

Having learned that General Penrose's troops were in such bad
shape. General Carr ordered Major Brown to start out the next
morning with two companies of cavalry and fifty pack-mules
loaded with provisions, and to make all possible speed to reach
and relieve the suffering soldiers. I accompanied this detach-
ment, and on the third day out we found the half-famished
soldiers camped on the Palladora. The camp presented a pitiful
sight, indeed. For over two weeks the men had had only quarter
rations and were now nearly starved to death. Over two hundred
horses and mules were lying dead, having died from fatigue
and starvation. General Penrose, fearing that General Carr
would not find him, had sent back a company of the Seventh
Cavalry to Fort Lyon for supplies ; but no word as yet had been
heard from them. The rations which Major Brown brought to
the command came none too soon and were the means of saving
many lives.

AUTOBIOGEAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

165

About the first man I saw after reaching the camp was my old,
true and tried friend, Wild Bill. That night we had a jolly re-
union around the camp-fires.

General Carr, upon arriving with his force, took command of
all the troops, he being the senior oflScer and ranking General
Penrose. After selecting a good camp, he unloaded the wagons
and sent them back to Fort Lyon for fresh supplies. He then

DISCOVERY OP Penrose's starving comjiiand.
picked out five hundred of the best men and horses, and, taking
his pack-train with him, he started south for the Canadian river,
distant about forty miles, leaving the rest of the troops at the
supply camp.

SUCCESSFUL RAID ON A BEER TRAIN.

I was ordered to accompany this expedition. We struck the
south fork of the Canadian river, or Kio Colorado, at a point a

166 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

few miles above the old adobe walls, whicli at one time had com-
posed a fort, and was the place where Kit Carson once had a big
Indian fight. We were now within twelve miles of a new sup-
ply depot, called Camp Evans, which had been established for
the Third Cavalry and Evans' Expedition from New Mexico.
The scouts who had brought in this information also reported
that they expected the arrival at Camp Evans of a bull-train
from New Mexico with a large quantity of beer for the soldiers.
This news was grateful to Wild Bill and myself, and we deter-
mined to lie low for that beer outfit. That very evening it came
along, and the beer that was destined for the soldiers at Camp
Evans never reached its destination. It went straight down
the thirsty throats of General Carr's command. It appears
that the Mexicans living near Fort Union had manufactured
the beer, and were taking it through to Camp Evans to sell
to the troops, but it struck a lively market without going so
far. It was sold to our boys in pint cups, and as the weather
was very cold we warmed the beer by putting the ends of our
picket-pins heated red hot into the cups. The result was one
of the biggest beer jollifications I ever had the misfortune to
attend.

One evening General Carr summoned me to his tent, and said
he wished to send some scouts with dispatches to Camp Supply,
which were to be forwarded from there to Sheridan. He ordered
me to call the scouts together at once at his headquarters, and se-
lect the men who were to go. I asked him if I should not go
myself, but he replied that he wished me to remain with the com-
mand, as he could not spare me. The distance to Camp Supply
was about two hundred miles, and owing to the very cold weather
it was anything but a pleasant trip. Consequently none of the
scouts were anxious to undertake it. It was finally settled, how-
ever, that Wild Bill, a half-breed called Little Geary, and three
other scouts should carry the dispatches, and they accordingly
took their departure next day, with instructions to return to the
command as soon as possible.

For several days we scouted along the Canadian river, but

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 167

found no signs of Indians. General Carr then went back to his
camp, and soon afterwards our wagon train came in from Fort
Lyon with a fresh load of provisions. Our animals being in poor
condition, we remained in different camps along San Francisco
Creek and the north fork of the Canadian until Wild Bill and
his scouts returned from Camp Supply.

A FREE FIGHT AMONG THE SCOUTS.

Among the scouts of Penrose's command were fifteen Mexi-
cans, and between them and the American scouts there had ex-
isted a feud ; when General Carr took command of the expedi-
tions — uniting it with his own — and I was made chief of all the
scouts, this feud grew more intense, and the Mexicans often
threatened to clean us out ; but they postponed the undertaking
from time to time, until one day, while we were all at the sutler's
store, the long-expected fight took place, and resulted in the
Mexicans getting severely beaten.

General Carr upon hearing of the row, sent for Wild Bill and my-
self, he having concluded, from the various statements which had
been made to him, that we were the instigators of the affair.
But after listening to what we had to say, he thought that the
Mexicans were as much to blame as we were.

It is not to be denied that Wild Bill and myself had been par-
taking too freely of *' tangle-foot " that evening; and Gen-
eral Carr said to me: *' Cody, there are plenty of antelopes in
the country, and you can do some hunting for the camp while we
stay here."

'*All right. General, I'll do it."

After that I put in my time hunting, and with splendid success,
killing from fifteen to twenty antelopes a day, which kept the
men well supplied with fresh meat.

At length, our horses and mules having become sufficiently re-
cruited to travel, we returned to Fort Lyon, arriving there in
March, 1869, where the command was to rest and recruit for thir-
ty days, before proceeding to the Department of the Platte,
whither it had been ordered.

168

STOBT OP THE WILD WEST

CHAPTER XII.

I AM ACCUSED Or SELLING GOVERNMENT PROPERTY.

PON my return to Fort Lyon General Carr
granted me a leave of absence of one month
which I improved by paying a visit to mj>
family which was at this time in St. Louis.
The nearest railroad station to Fort Lyon was
Sheridan, fully one hundred and forty miles
distant, and rs I had no conveyance of my
own, General Carr instructed Captain Hays,
our quartermaster, to give me the use of a
horse to make the necessary journey. When I
received the horse it was with instructions to leave the animal m
the quartermaster's corral at Fort Wallace until my return, but
instead of so doing I placed the horse in the care of an old friend
named Perry, who was a hotel-keeper in Sheridan.

After a twenty days' absence in St. Louis, pleasantly spent
with my family, I returned to Sheridan, and there learned that
my horse had been seized by the government. It seems that the
quartermaster's agent at Sheridan had reported to General Bank-
head, commanding Fort Wallace, and to Captain Laufer, the
quartermaster, that I had left the country and had sold a govern-
ment horse and mule to Mr. Perry, and of course Captain Laufer
took possession of the animals and threatened to have Perry ar-
rested for buying government property. Perry explained to him
the facts in the case and said that I would return in a few days ;
but the Captain would pay no attention to his statements.

I immediately went over to the office of the quartermaster's
agent, and had Perry point him out to me. I at once laid hold
of him, and in a short time had treated him to just such a
thrashing as his contemptible lie deserved. He then mounted a
horse, rode to Fort Wallace, and reported me to General Bank-

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BUXc 169

head and Captain Laufer, and obtained a guard to return with
and protect him.

The next morning I secured a horse from Perry, and proceed-
ing to Fort Wallace demanded my horse and mule from General
Bankhead, on the ground that they were Quartermaster Hays*
property and belonged to General Carr's command and that I had
obtained permission to ride them to Sheridan and back. Gener^
al Bankhead in a grufp manner ordered me out of his office and
off the reservation, saying that if I didn't take 5 hurried depar-
ture he would have me forcibly put out. I told him to do it and
be hanged ; I might have used a stronger expression, and upon
second thought, I believe I did. I next interviewed Captain
Laufer and demanded of him also the horse and mule, as I was
responsible for them to Quartermaster Hays. Captain Laufer
intimated that I was a liar and that I had disposed of the ani-
mals. Hot words ensued between us, and he too ordered me to
leave the post. I replied that General Bankhead had commanded
me to do the same thing, but that I had not yet gone ; and that I
did not propose to obey any orders of an inferior officer.

Seeing that it was of no use to make any further effort to get
possession of the animals I rode back to Sheridan, and just as I
reached there I met the quartermaster's agent coming out from
supper, with his head tied up. It occurred to me that he had not
received more than one-half of the punishment justly due him,
and that now would be a good time to give him the balance —
so I carried the idea into immediate execution. After finishing
the job in good style, I informed him that he could not stay in
that town while I remained there, and convinced him that Sheri-
dan was not large enough to hold us both at the same time ; he
accordingly left the place and again went to Fort Wallace, this
time reporting to General Bankhead that I had driven him away,
and had threatened to kill him.

ARRESTED AND THROWN INTO THE GUARD-HOUSB.

That night while sleeping at the Perry House, I was awakened
by a tap on the shoulder and upon looking up I was considerably

170 STORT OF THE WILt> WEST.

surprised to seethe room filled with armed negroes who had their
guns all pointed at me. The first words 1 heard came from the
sergeant, who said: —

**Now look a-heah, Massa Bill, ef you makes a move we'll
blow you off de farm, shuahl " Just then Captain Ezekiel en^
tered and ordered the soldiers to stand back.

** Captain, what does this mean? *' I asked.

** I am sorry, Bill, but 1 have been ordered by General
Bankhead to arrest you and bring you to Fort Wallace," said he.

'* That's all right," said I, *' but you could have made the ar-
rest alone, without having brought the whole Thirty-eighth In-
fantry with you."

** I know that, Bill," replied the Captain, ** but as you've not
been in very good humor for the last day or two, I didn't know
how you would act."

I hastily dressed, and accompanied Captain Ezekiel to Fort
Wallace, arriving there at two o'clock in the morning.

** Bill, I am really sorry," said Captain Ezekiel, as we
alighted, *«butl have orders to place you in the guard-house,
and I must perform my duty."

** Very well, Captain ; I don't blame you a bit," said I; and
into the guard-house I went as a prisoner for the first and only
time in my life. The sergeant of the guard — who was an old
friend of mine, belonging to Captain Graham's company, which
was stationed there at the time — did not put me into a cell, but
kindly allowed me to stay in his room and occupy his bed, and in
a few minutes I was snoring away as if nothing unusual Iiad oc-
curred.

Shortly after reveille Captain Graham called to see me. He
thought it was a shame for me to be in the guard-house, and said
that he would interview General Bankhead in my behalf as soon
as he got up. The Captain had a mce breakfast prepared for me,
and then departed. At guard-mount I was not sent for, con-
trary to my expectations, and thereupon 1 had word conveyed to
Captain Graham, who was officer of the day, that 1 wanted to
see General Bankhead. The Captain informed me that the Gen-

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 171

oral absolutely refused to hold any conversation whatever with
me.

At this time there was no telegraph line between Fort Wallace
and Fort Lyon, and therefore it was impossible for me to tele-
graph to General Carr, and I determined to send a dispatch di-
rect to General Sheridan. I accordingly wrote out a long tele-
gram informing him of my difficulty, and had it taken to the
telegraph office for transmission; but the operator, instead of
sending it at once as he should have done, showed it to General
Bankhead, who tore it up, and instructed the operator not to pay
any attention to what I might say, as he was running that post.
Thinking it very strange that I received no answer during the day
I went to the telegraph office, accompanied by a guard, and
learned from the operator what he had done.

A DISPUTK OVER A TELEGRAM.

•* See here, my young friend," said T, ** this is a public tele-
graph line, and I want my telegram sent, or there'll be trouble."

I re- wrote my dispatch and handed it to him, accompanied with
the money to pay for the transmission, saying, as I did so:
** Young man, I wish that telegram sent direct to Chicago. You
know it is your duty to send it, and it must go."

He knew very well that he was compelled to transmit the mes-
sage, but before doing so he called on General Bankhead and in-
formed him of what I had said, and told him that he would
certainly have to send it, for if he didn*t he might lose his posi-
tion. The General, seeing that the telegram would have to go,
summoned me to his headquarters, and the first thing he said, after
I got into his presence was : —

*« If I let you go, sir, will you leave the post at once and not
bother my agent at Sheridan again?"

«* No, sir ; " I replied, " I'll do nothing of the kind. I'll re-
main in the guard-house until I receive an answer from General
Sheridan."

" If I give you the horse and mule will you proceed at once to
Fort Lyon?"

172 STORT OF THE WILD WEST.

**No, sir; I have some bills to settle at Sheridan and some
other business to transact," replied I.

*' Well, sir; will you at least agree not to interfere any fur-
ther with the quartermaster's agent at Sheridan?"

*'I shall not bother him any more, sir, as I have had all I
want from him," was my answer.

General Bankhead thereupon sent for Captain Laufer and
ordered him to turn the horse and mule over to me. In a few
minutes more I was on my way to Sheridan, and after settling
my business there, I proceeded to Fort Lyon, arriving two days
afterwards. I related my adventures to General Carr, Major
Brown, and other officers, who were greatly amused thereby.

IN PURSUIT OF HORSE THIEVES.

" I'm glad you've come, Bill," said General Carr, ** as I have
been wanting you for the last two weeks. While we have been
at this post several valuable animals, as well as a large number
of government horses and mules have been stolen, and we think
the thieves are still in the vicinity of the fort, but as jet we have
been unable to discover their rendezvous. I have had a party
out for the last few days in the neighborhood of old Fort Lyon,
and they have found fresh tracks down there and seem to think
that the stock is concealed somewhere in the timber, along the
Arkansas river. Bill Green, one of the scouts who is just
up from there, can perhaps tell you something more about the
matter."

Green, who had been summoned, said that he had discovered
fresh trails before striking the heavy timber opposite old Fort
Lyon, })ut that in the tall grass he could not follow them. He
had marked the place where he had last seen fresh mule tracks,
so that he could ifind it again.

*< Now, Cody, you're just the person we want," said the
General.

'*Very well, I'll get a fresh mount, and to-morrow I'll go
down and see what I can discover," said I.

"You had better take two men besides Green, and a pack mule

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP BUFFALO BILL. 173

with eight or ten days' rations," suggested the General, ** so
that if you find the trail you can follow it up, as I am very
anxious to get back this stolen property. The scoundrels have
taken one of my private horses and also Lieutenant Forbush's
favorite little black race mule.**

Next morning I started out after the horse- thieves, being ac-
companied by Green, Jack Farky and another scout. The
mule track, marked by Green, was easily found, and with very
little difficulty I followed it for about two miles into the timber
and came upon a place where, as I could plainly see from numer-
ous signs, quite a number of head of stock had been tied among
the trees and kept for several days. This was evidently the
spot where the thieves had been hiding their stolen stock until
they had accumulated quite a herd. From this point it was dif-
ficult to trail them, as they had taken the stolen animals out of
the timber one by one and in different directions, thus showing
that they were experts at the business and experienced frontiers-
men, for no Indian could have exhibited more cunning in cover-
ing up a trail than did they.

I abandoned the idea of following their trail in this immediate
locality, so calling my men together, I told them that we would
ride out for about five miles and make a complete circuit about
the place, and in this way we would certainly find the trail on
which they had moved out. While making the circuit we discov-
ered the tracks of twelve animals — four mules and eight
horses — in the edge of some sand-hills, and frcm this point we
had no trouble in trailing them down the Arkansas river, which
they had crossed at Sand creek, and then had gone up the latter
stream, in the direction of Denver, to which place they were un-
doubtedly bound. When nearing Denver their trail became so
obscure that we at last lost it ; but by inquiring of the settlers
along the road which they had taken, we occasionally heard of
them

THE THIEVES RUN DOWN.

When within four miles of Denver — -this was on a Thorsday —
we learned that the horse-thieves had passed there two days be-

174 STORY OP THE WILD WEST.

fore. I came to the conclusion they would attempt to dispose of
the animals at Denver, and being aware that Saturday was the
great auction day there, I thought it best to remain where we
were, at a hotel, and not go into the *lly until that day. It cer-
tainly would not have been advisable for me to have gone into
Denver meantime, because I was well known there, and if the
thieves had learned of my presence in the city they would at once
have suspected my business.

Early Saturday morning we rode into town and stabled our
horses at the Elephant corral. I secured a room from Ed. Chase,
overlooking the corral, and then took up my post of observation.
I did not have long to wait, for a man whom I readily recognized
as one of our old packers, rode into the corral mounted upon
Lieutenant Forbush's racing mule, and leading another govern-
ment mule, which I also identified. It had been recently branded,
and over the «' U. S. '' was a plain " D. B.*' I waited for the
man's companion to put in an appearance, but he did not come,
and my conclusion was that lie was secreted outside of the city
with the rest of the animals.

Presently the black mule belonging to Forbush was put up at
auction. Kow, thought I, is the time to do my work. So, walk-
ing through the crowd, who were bidding for the mule, I ap-
proached the man who had offered him for sale. He recognized
me and endeavored to escape, but I seized him by the shoulder,
saying: *'I guess, my friend, that you'll have to go with me.
If you make any resistance, I'll shoot you on the spot.'' He was
armed with a pair of pistols, which I took away from him. Then
informing the auctioneer that I was a United States detective, and
showing him — as well as an inquisitive officer — my commission
as such, I told him to stop the sale, as the mule was stolen prop-
erty, and that I had arrested the thief, whose name was Williams.

Farley and Green, who were near at hand, now came forward,
and together we took the prisoner and the mules three miles down
the Platte river ; there, in a thick bunch of timber, we all dis-
mounted and made preparations to hang Williams from a limb,
if he did not tell us where his partner was. At first he denied

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP BUFFALO BILL. 175

knowing anything about any partner, or any other stock ; but
when he saw that we were in earnest, and would hang him at the
end of the given time — five minutes — unless he «* squealed,' ' he
told us that his ** pal '* was at an imoccupied house three miles
further down the river.

We immediately proceeded to the spot indicated, and as we
'came within sight of the house we saw our stock grazing near by.
Just as we rode up to the door, another one of our old packers,
whom 1 recognized as Bill Bevins, stepped to the front and I
covered him instantly with my riJfle before he could draw his re-
volver. I ordered him to throw up his hands, and he obeyed
the command. Green then disarmed him and brought him out.
We looked through the house and found their saddles, pack-sad-
dles, blankets, overcoats, lariats and two Henry rifles, which we
took possession of. The horses and mules we tied in a bunch,
and with the whole outfit we returned to Denver, where we lodged
Williams and Bevins in jail, in charge of my friend. Sheriff Ed-
ward Cook. The next day we took them out, and tying each
one on a muio we struck out on our return trip to Fort Lyon.

ESCAPE OF BEVINS.

At the hotel outside the city, where we had stopped on Thurs-
day and Friday, we v/ere joined by our man with the pack-mule.
That night we camped on Cherry creek, seventeen miles from
Denver. The weather — it being in April — was cold and stormy,
but we found a warm and cosy camping place in a bend of the
creek. We made our beds in a row, with our feet towards the
fire. The prisoners so far had appeared very docile, and had
made no attempt to escape, and therefore I did not think it nec-
essary to hobble them. We made them sleep on the inside, and it
was so arranged that some one of us should be on guard all the time.

At about one o'clock in the night it began snowing, while I
was watching. Shortly before three o'clock. Jack Farley,, who
was then on guard, and sitting on the foot of the bed, with his
back to the prisoners, was kicked clear into the fire by Williams,
mxd the nejit moment Bevins, who had got hold of his shoes —

176 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

which I had thought were out of his reach — sprang up a^
jumped over the fire, and started on a run. I sent a shot after
him as soon as I awoke sufficiently to comprehend what was tak-
mg place. Williams attempted to follow him, and as he did so
I whirled around and knocked him down with my revolver. Far-
ley by this time had gathered himself out of the fire, and Green
had started after Bevins, firing at him on the run ; but the pris-
oner made his escape into the brush. In his flight, unfortu-
nately for him, and luckily for us, he dropped one of his shoes.
Leaving Williams in the charge of Farley and ** Long Doc,"
as we called the man with the pack- mule. Green and myself
struck out after Bevins as fast as possible. We heard him break-
ing through the brush, but knowing that it would be useless to
follow him on foot, we went back to the camp and saddled up
two of the fastest horses, and at daylight we struck out on his
trail, which was plainly visible in the snow. He had got an hour
and a half the start of us. His tracks led us in the direction of
the mountains and the South Platte river, and, as the country
through which he was passing was covered with prickly pears,
we knew that he could not escape stepping on them with his one
bare foot, and hence we were likely to overtake him in a short
time. We could see, however, from the long jumps that he was
taking that he was making* excellent time, but we frequently no-
ticed, after we had gone some distance, that the prickly pears and
stones along his route were cutting his bare foot, as nearly every
track of it was spotted with blood.

AN EXTRAORDINARY RUN FOR LIBERTY.

We had run our horses some twelve miles when we saw Bevins
crossing a ridge about two miles ahead. Urging our horses up
tx) their utmost speed, we reached the ridge just as he was de-
scending the divide towards the South Platte, which stream was
very deep and swift at this point. It became evident that if he
should cross it ahead of us, he would have a good chance of mak-
ing his escape. So pushing our steeds as fast as possible, we
rapidly gained on him, and when withm a hundred yards of him 1

AUTOBIOGRAPHY 0± ^oJJ'FALO BILL.

177

cried to Lim to halt or I would shoot. Knowing 1 was a good
shot, he stopped, and coolly sitting down waited till we came up.

A HORSE- THIEF THAT WAS GAME.

" Bevins, you've given us a good run," said I.

^* Yes," said he, '^ and if I had had fifteen minutes more of &

178 STORY OP THE WILD WEST

start, and got across the Platte, I would have laughed at the idea
of your ever catching me."

Bevins'run was the most remarkable feat of the kind ever
known, either of a white man, or an Indian. A man who could
run bare-footed in the snow eighteen miles through a prickly pear
patch, was certainly a 'Uough one," and that's the kind of a per-
son Bill Bevins was. Upon looking at his bleeding foot I really
felt sorry for him. He asked me for my knife, and I gave him
my sharp-pointed bowie, with which he dug the prickly pear briars
out of his foot. I considered him as " game " a man as I had
ever met.

** Bevins, I have get to take you back," said I, «« but as you
can't walk with that foot, you can ride my horse and I'll foot it."

We accordingly started back for our camp, with Bevins on my
horse, which was led either by Green or myself, as we alternately
rode the other horse. We kept a close watch on Bevins, for we
had ample proof that he needed watching. His wounded foot
must have pained him terribly but not a word of complaint es-
caped him. On arriving at the camp we found Williams bound
as we had left him and he seemed sorry that we had captured
Bevins.

A SUCCESSFUL BREAK IN THE DARK.

After breakfasting we resumed our journey, and nothing worthy
of note again occurred until we reached the Arkansas river,
where we found a vacant cabin and at once took possession of it
for the night. There was no likelihood of Bevins again trying
to escape, for his foot had swollen to an enormous size and was
useless. Believing that Williams could not escape from the
cabin, we unbound him. We then went to sleep, leaving Long
Doc on guard, the cabin being comfortably warmed and well
lighted by the fire. It was a dark, stormy night — so dark that
you could hardly see your hand before you. At about ten o' clock
Williams asked Long Doc to allow him to step to the door for a
moment.

Long Doc, who had his revolver in his hand, did not think it
necessary to wake us up, and believing that he could take care of

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

179

the prisoner, he granted his request. Williams thereupon walked
to the outer edge of the door, while Long Doc, revolver in hand,
was watching him from the inside. Suddenly Williams made a
spring to the right, and before Doc could even raise his revolver,
he had dodged around the house. Doc jumped after him, and
fired just as he turned a corner, the report bringing us all to our

ROBBING A STAGE COACH.

feet, and in an
instant we knew
what had hap-
pened. I at
once covered
Bevins with my
revolver, but as
I saw that he could hardly stir, and was making no demon-
stration, I lowered the weapon. Just then Doc came in swear-
ing ** a blue streak," and announced that Williams had escaped.
There was nothing for us to do except to gather our horses
close to the cabin and stand guard over them for the rest of the
night, to prevent the possibility of Williams sneaking up and
stealing one of them. That was the last T ever saw or heard of
Williams.

180 STORY OF THE WILD WEST,

BREAKING UP OF THE GANG.

We finally got back to Fort Lyon with Bevins, and General
Carr, to whom I Immediateiy reported, complimented us highly
on the success of our trip, notwithstanding we had lost one pris-
oner. The next day we took Bevins to Boggs' ranch on Picket
Wire creek, and there turned him over to the civil authorities,
who put him in a log jail to await his trial. He was never tried,
however, for he soon made his escape, as I expected he would.
I heard no more of him until 1872, when I learned that he was
skirmishing around on Laramie plains at his old tricks. He sent
word by the gentleman from whom I gained this information,
that if he ever met me again he would kill me on sight. He
was finally arrested and convicted for robbery, and was confined
in the prison at Laramie City. Again he made his escape, and
soon afterwards he organized a desperate gang of outlaws who
infested the country north of the Union Pacific railroad, and
when the stages began to run between Cheyenne and Deadwood,
in the Black Hills, they robbed the coaches and passengers, fre-
quently making large hauls of plunder. They kept this up for
some time, till finally most of the gang were caught, tried, con-
victed and sent to the penitentiary for a number of years. Bill
Bevins and nearly all of his gang are now confined in the Nebraska
State prison, to which they were transferred from Wyoming.

AUTOBIOGRAFHT OF BUFFALO BILL.

181

CHAPTER Xra.

A MILITARY EXPEDITION.

DAY or two after my return to Fort
Lyon, the Fifth Cavalry were ordered
to the Department of the Platte, and
took up their line of march for Fort Mc-
Pherson, Nebraska. We laid over one day
at Fort Wallace, to get supplies, and while
^I^ there I had occasion to pass General Bank-
___ ':^ head's headquarters. His orderly called to me
'^ ^f^ and said the General wished to see me. As I entered
the General's oflSce he extended his hand and said:
*«I hope you have no hard feelings toward me, Cody,
for having you arrested when you were here. I have just had a
talk with General Carr and Quartermaster Hays and they in-
formed me that you had their permission to ride the horse and
mule, and if you had stated this fact to me there would have
been no trouble about the matter whatever."

** That is all right. General," said I ; ** I will think no more
of it. But I don't believe that your quartermaster's agent will
ever again circulate false stories about me."

"No," said the General; *' he has not yet recovered from the
beating that you gave him."

From Fort Wallace we moved down to Sheridan, where the
command halted for us to lay in a supply of forage which was
stored there. I was still messing with Major Brown, with whom
1 went into the village to purchase a supply of provisions for
our mess; but unfortunately we were m too jolly a mood to fool
away money on " grub." We bought several articles, however,
and put them into the ambulance and sent them back to the camp
with our cook. The Major and myself did not return until
reveille neict morning. Soon afterwards the General sounded

182 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

" boots and saddles," and presently the regiment was on its way
to McPherson.

It was very late before we went into camp that night and we
were tired and hungry. Just as Major Brown was having his
tent put up his cook came to us and asked where the provisions
were that we had bought the day before.

** Why, did we not give them to you — did you not bring them
to camp in the ambulance? " asked Major Brown.

** No, sir; it was only a five-gallon demijohn of whisky, a five-
gallon demijohn of brandy, and two cases of Old Tom-Cat gin,*'
said the cook.

*« The mischief I *' I exclaimed; ** didn't we spend any money
on grub at all ? "

"No, sir," replied the cook.

**Well, that will do for the present," said Major Brown.

It seems that our minds had evidently been running on a dif-
ferent subject than provisions while we were loitering in Sheridan,
and we found ourselves, with a two hundred and fifty mile march
ahead of us, without anything more inviting than ordinary army
rations.

At this juncture Captain Denny came up and the Major apolo-
gized for not being able to invite him to take supper with us ;
but we did the next best thing, and asked him to take a drink.
He remarked that that was what he was looking for, and when
he learned of our being out of commissary supplies and that we
had bought nothing except whisky, brandy and gin, he said, joy-
ously : —

** Boys, as we have an abundance, you can eat with us and we
will drink with you."

It was a satisfactory arrangement, and from that time forward
we traded our liquids for their solids. When the rest of the
officers heard of what Brown and I had done they all sent us in-
vitations to dine with them at any time. We returned the com-
pliment by inviting them to drink with us whenever they were
dry. -A Ithough I would not advise anybody to follow our exam-
ple, yet it is a fact that we got more provisions for our whisky

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 183

than the same money, which we paid for the liquor, would have
bought, so after all it proved a very profitable investment.

A BIG INDIAN TRAIL.

On reaching north fork of the Beaver and riding down the val-
ley towards the stream, I suddenly discovered a large fresh
Indian trail. On examination I found it to be scattered all over
the valley on both sides of the creek, as if a very large village
had recently passed down that way. Judging from the size of
the trail, I thought there could not be less than four hundred
lodges, or between twenty-five hundred and three thousand war-
riors, women and children in the band. I galloped back to the
command, distant about three miles, and reported the news to
General Carr, who halted the regiment, and, after consulting a
few minutes, ordered me to select a ravine, or as low ground as
possible, so that he could keep the troops out of sight until we
could strike the creek.

We went into camp on the Beaver, and the General ordered
Lieutenant Ward to take twelve men and myself and follow up
the trail for several miles, and find out how fast the Indians were
traveling. I was soon convinced, by the many camps they had
made, that they were traveling slowly, and hunting as they jour-
neyed. We went down the Beaver on this scout about twelve
miles, keeping our horses well concealed under the banks of
the creek, so as not to be discovered.

At this point, Lieutenant Ward and myself, leaving our horses
behind us, crawled to the top of a high knoll, where we could
have a good view for some miles distant down the stream. We
peeped over the summit of the hill, and not over three miles away
we could see a whole Indian village in plain sight, and thousands
of ponies grazing around on the prairie. Looking over to our
left on the opposite side of the creek, we observed two or three
parties of Indians coming in, loaded down with buffalo meat.

'* This is no place for us. Lieutenant," said I ; ** I think we
have important business at the camp to attend to as soon as pos-
sible.''

184 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

" I agree with you," said he, " and the quicker we get there
the better it will be for us."

We quickly descended the hill and joined the men below.
Lieutenant Ward hurriedly wrote a note to General Carr, and
handing it to a corporal, ordered him to make all possible haste
back to the command and deliver the message. The man started
off on a gallop, and Lieutenant Ward said: '*We will march
slowly back until we meet the troops, as I think the Gen-
eral will soon be here, for he will start immediately upon receiv-
ing my note."

ATTACK ON THE COURIER.

In a few minutes we heard two or three shots in the direction
in which our dispatch courier had gone, and soon after we saw
him come running around the bend of the creek, pursued by four
or five Indians. The Lieutenant, with his squad of soldiers and
myself, at once charged upon them, when they turned and ran
across the stream.

** This will not do," said Lieutenant Ward, ** the whole Indian
village will now know that soldiers are near by.

*' Lieutenant, give me that note, and I will take it to the Gen-
eral," said I.

He gladly handed me the dispatch, and spurring my horse I
dashed up the creek. After having ridden a short distance, I
observed another party of Indians also going to the village with
meat; but instead of waiting for them to fire upon me, I gave
them a shot at long range. Seeing one man firing at them so
boldly, it surprised them, and they did not know what to make of
it. While they were thus considering, I got between them and
our camp. By this time they had recovered from their surprise,
and, cutting their buffalo meat loose from their horses, they
came after me at the top of their speed; but as their steeds were
tired out, it did not take me long to leave them far in the rear.

I reached the command in less than an hour, delivered the
dispatch to General Carr, and informed him of what I had
seen. He instantly had the bugler sound *' boots and saddles,"
and all the troops — with the exception of two companies which

liii

I I

■ *ll I'll'

mim

ifts-t

186 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

we left to guard the train — were soon galloping in the direction
of the Indian camp.

A LIEUTENANT IN SHARP QUARTERS.

We had ridden about three miles when we met Lieutenant
Ward, who was coming slowly towards us. He reported that he
had run into a party of Indian buffalo hunters, and had killed one
of the number, and had had one of his horses wounded. We im-
mediately pushed forward and after marching about five miles
came within sight of hundreds of mounted Indians advancing up
the creek to meet us. Tliey formed a complete line in front of
us. General Carr, being desirous of striking their village, or-
dered the troops to charge, break through their line, and keep
straight on. This movement would, no doubt, have been suc-
cessfully accomplished had it not been for the rattlebrained and
dare-devil French Lieutenant Schinosky, commanding Company
B, who, misunderstanding General Carr's orders, charged upon
some Indians at the left, while the rest of the command dashed
through the enemy's line, and was keeping straight on, when it
was observed that Schinosky and his company were surrounded
by four or ^yq hundred red-skins. The General, to save the
company, was obliged to sound a halt and charge back to the
rescue. The company, during this short fight, had several men
and quite a number of horses killed.

All this took up valuable time, and night was coming on. The
Indians were fighting desperately to keep us from reaching their
village, which being informed by couriers of what was taking
place, was packing up and getting away. During that afternoon
it was all we could do to hold our own in fighting the mounted
warriors, who were in our front and contesting every inch of the
ground. The General had left word for our wagon train to fol-
low up with its escort of two companies, but as it had not made
its appearance he entertained some fears that it had been sur-
rounded, and to prevent the possible loss of the supply train we
had to go back and look for it. About 9 o'clock that evening
we found it, and went into camp for the night.

188 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

Early the next day we broke camp and passed down the creek
but there was not an Indian to be seen. They had all disappeared
and gone on with their village. Two miles further we came to
where a village had been located, and here we found nearly every-
thing belonging or pertaining to an Indian camp, which had been
left in the great hurry to get away. These articles were all
gathered up and burned. We then pushed out on the trail as
fast as possible. It led us to the northeast towards the Kepub-
lican; but as the Indians had a night the start of us we enter-
tained but little hope of overtaking them that day. Upon reach-
ing the Republican in the afternoon the General called a halt, and
as the trail was running more to the e^ist, he concluded to send
his wagon train on to Fort McPherson by the most direct route,
while he would follow on the trail of the red-skins.

Next morning at daylight we again pulled out and were evi-
dently gaining rapidly on the Indians for we could occasionally
see them in the distance. About 11 o'clock that day while Major
Babcock was ahead of the main command with his company, and
while we were crossing a deep ravine, we were surprised by about
three hundred warriors who commenced a lively fire upon us.
Galloping out of the ravine on to the rough prairie the men dis-
mounted and returned the fire. We soon succeeded in driving
the enemy before us, and were so close upon them at one time
that they abandoned and threw away nearly all their lodges and
camp equipages, and everything that had any considerable weight.
They left behind them their played-out horses, and for miles we
could see Indian furniture strewn along in every direction. The
trail became divided, and the Indians scattered in small bodies,
all over the prairie. As night was approaching and our horses
were about giving out, a halt was called. A company was de-
tailed to collect all the Indian horses running loose over the coun-
try, and to burn the other Indian property.

The command being nearly out of rations I was sent to the
nearest point, Old Fort Kearney, about sixty miles distant for
supplies

190 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

RE-ENFOIiCED BY THE PAWNEE SCOUTS.

Shortly after we reached Fort McPherson, which continued to
be the headquarters of the Fifth Cavalry for some time, we
fitted out for a new expedition to the Eepublican river country,
and were re-enforced by three companies of the celebrated Pawnee
Indian scouts, commanded by Major Frank North : his officers
being Captain Lute North, brother of the Major, Captain Cush-
ing, his brother-in-law. Captain Morse, and Lieutenants Beecher,
Matthews and Kislandberry. General Carr recommended at this
time to General Augur, who was in command of the Department,
that I be made chief of scouts in the Department of the Platte,
and informed me that in this position I would receive higher
wages than I had been getting in the Department of the Missouri.
This appointment I had not asked for.

I made the acquaintance of Major Frank North and I found
him and his officers perfect gentlemen, and we were all good
friends from the very start. The Pawnee scouts had made quite
a reputation for themselves as they had performed brave and
valuable services in fighting against the Sioux, whose bitter
enemies they were ; being thoroughly acquainted with the Eepub-
lican and Beaver country, I was glad that they were to be
with the expedition, and my expectation of the aid they would
render was not disappointed.

During our stay at Fort McPherson I made the acquaintance
of Lieutenant George P. Belden, known as the '* White Chief,"
whose life was written by Colonel Brisbin, U. S. army. I
found him to be an intelligent, dashing fellow, a splendid rider
and an excellent shot. An hour after our introduction he
challenged me for a rifle match, the preliminaries of which were
soon arranged. We were to shoot ten shots each for fifty dollars,
at two hundred yards, off hand. Belden was to use a Henry rifle,
while I was to shoot my old *' Lucretia." This match I won and
then Belden proposed to shoot a one hundred yard match, as I
was shooting over his distance. In this match Belden was vic-
torious. We were now even, and we stopped right there.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFrALO BILL. 191

A COMICAL SIGHT.

While we were at this post General Augur and several of his
officers, and also Thomas Duncan, Brevet Brigadier and Lieu-
tenant-Colonel of the Fifth Cavalry, paid us a visit for the
purpose of reviewing the command. The regiment turned out
in fine style and showed themselves to be well drilled soldiers,
thoroughly understanding military tactics. The Pawnee scouts
were also reviewed and it was very amusing to see them in their
full regulation uniform. They had been furnished a regular
cavalry uniform and on this parade some of them had their heavy
overcoats on, others their large black hats, with all the brass
accoutrements attached; some of them were minus pantaloons
and only wore a breech-clout. Others wore regulation pantaloons
but no shirts and were bare headed ; others againhad the seat
of the pantaloons cut out, leaving only leggins ; some of them wore
brass spurs , though without boots or moccasins ; but for all this they
seemed to understand the drill remarkably well for Indians. The
commands, of course, were given to them in their own language
by Major North, who could talk it as well as any full-blooded
Pawnee. The Indians were well mounted and felt proud and
elated because they had been made United States soldiers.
Major North had for years complete power over these Indians and
could do more with them than any man living. That evening
after the parade was over the officers and quite a number of
ladies visited a grand Indian dance given by the Pawnees, and of
all the Indians I have seen their dances excel those of any other
tribe.

BATTLE BETWEEN THE SIOUX AND PAWNEES.

Next day the command started; when encamped, several days
after, on the Republican river near the mouth of the Beaver, we
heard the whoops of Indians, followed by shots in the vicinity
of the mule herd, which had been taken down to water. One of
the herders came dashing into camp with an arrow sticking into
him. My horse was close at hand, and, mounting him bare-back,
I at once dashed ofP after the mule herd, which had been stam-

192 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

peded. I supposed certainly that I would be the first man on
the ground, but I was mistaken, however, for the Pawnee Indians,
unlike regular soldiers, had not waited to receive orders from
their officers, but had jumped on their ponies without bridles or
saddles, and placing ropes in their mouths, had dashed off in the
direction whence the shots had come, and had got there ahead of
me. It proved to be a party of about fifty Sioux, who had en-
deavored to stampede our mules, and it took them by surprise
to see their inveterate enemies — the Pawnees — coming at full
gallop towards them. They were not aware that the Pawnees
were with the command, and as they knew that it would take
regular soldiers some time to turn out, they thought they would
have ample opportunity to secure the herd before the troops
could give chase.

We had a running fight of fifteen miles and several of the ene-
my were killed. During this chase I was mounted on an excellent
horse, which Colonel Eoyal had picked out for me, and for the
first mile or two I was in advance of the Pawnees. Presently a
Pawnee shot by me like an arrow and I could not help admiring
the horse that he was riding. Seeing that he possessed rare
running qualities, I determined if possible to get possession of
the animal in some way. It was a large bucksMn or yellow
horse, and I took a careful view of him so that I would know him
when I returned to camp.

After the chase was over I rode up to Major North and inquired
about the buckskin horse.

«*0h, yes," said the Major, "that is one of our favorite
steeds."

*' What chance is there to trade for him? " I asked.

*'It is a government horse," said he, " and the Indian who is
riding him is very much attached to the animal." .

*' I have fallen in love with the horse myself," said I, ** and I
would like to know if you have any objections to my trading for
him if I cai^ arrange it satisfactorily with the Indian? "

He replied: ** None whatever, and I will help you to do it ; you
san give the Indian another horse in his place."

LEADING HAWK, SIOUX (UPPEE BEULE).
Courtesy of Field Museum.

HOLLOW HORN, SIOUX (UPPER BRULE).
JDourtesy of Field Museum.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BELL.

193

A few days after this, I persuaded the Indian, by making him
several presents, to trade horses with me, and in this way I be-
came the owner of the buckskin steed, not as my own property,
however, but as a government horse that I could ride. I gave
him the name of ** Buckskin Joe " and he proved to be a second
Brigham. That horse I rode on and off during the summers of
1869, 1870, 1871 and 1872, and he was the horse that the Grand
Duke Alexis rode on his buffalo hunt.

ATTACK ON THE CABIN.

after I had left Fort McPherson, Buckskin Joe was condemned
and sold at public sale, and was bought by Dave Perry, at Nortel
Platte, who in 1877 presented him to me, and I owned him until
his death in 1879.

The command scouted several days up the Beaver and Prairie
Dog rivers, occasionally having running fights with way parties
of Indians, but did not succeed in getting them into a general
battle. At the end of twenty days we found ourselves back on
the Eepublican.

194 STORY OP THE WILD WEST.

THE INDIANS THINK BETTER OF MB.

Hitherto the Pawnees had not taken much interest in me, but
W^hile at this camp I gained their respect and admiration by show-
ing them how I killed buffaloes. Although the Pawnees were
excellent buffalo killers, for Indians, I have never seen one of
them who could kill more than four or five in one run. A number
of them generally surround the herd and then dash in upon them,
and in this way each one kills from one to four buffaloes. I had
gone out in company with Major North and some of the oflScers,
and saw them make a ** surround." Twenty of the Pawnees
circled a herd and succeeded in killing only thirty-two.

While they were cutting up the animals another herd appeared
in sight. The Indians were preparing to surround it, when I
asked Major North to keep them back and let me show them
what I could do. He accordingly informed the Indians of my
wish and they readily consented to let me have the opportunity.
I had learned that Buckskin Joe was an excellent buffalo horse,
and felt confident that I would astonish the natives ; galloping in
among the buffaloes, I certainly did so by killing thirty-six in less
than a half-mile run. At nearly every shot I killed a buffalo,
stringing the dead animals out on the prairie, not over fifty feet
apart. This manner of killing was greatly admired by the In-
dians who called me a big chief, and from that time on I stood
high in their estimation.

AXJTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

195

CHAPTER XV.

A DESPERATE FIGHT.

|N leaving camp, the command took a west-
ward course up the Republican, and
Major North with two companies of his
Pawnees and two or three companies of
cavalry, under the command of Colonel
Royal, made a scout to the north of the
river. Shortly after we had gone into camp,
on the Black Tail Deer fork, we observed a
band of Indians coming over the prairie at full
gallop, singing and yelling and waving their
lances and long poles. At first we supposed them
to be Sioux, and all was excitement for a few
moments. We noticed, however, that our Pawnee
Indians made no hostile demonstrations or preparations toward
going out to fight them, but began swinging and yelling them-
selves. Captain Lute North stepped up to General Carr and
said: ** General, those are our men who are coming, and they
have had a fight. That is the way they act when they come back
from a battle and have taken any scalps."

The Pawnees came into camp on the run. Captain North
calling to one of them — a sergeant — soon found out that they
had run across a party of Sioux who were following a large Indian
trail. These Indians had evidently been in a fight, for two or
three of them had been wounded and they were conveying the
injured persons on travoix. The Pawnees had *' jumped " them
and had killed three or four after a sharp fight, in which much
ammunition was expended.

Next morning the command, at an early hour, started out to
take up this Indian trail which they folio wed for two days as
rapidly as possible; it becoming evident from the many camp-
fires which we passed that we were gaining on the Indians.

196

STORY OF THE WILD WEST,

Wherever they had encamped we found the print of a woman'?
shoe, and we concluded that they had with them some white cap-
tive. This made us all the more anxious to overtake them, ana
General Carr accordingly selected all his best horses, which
could stand a hard run, and gave orders for the wagon train to
follow as fast as possible, while he pushed ahead on a forced
march. At the same time I was ordered to pick out ^ve or six
of the best Pawnees, and go on in advance of the command,
keeping ten or twelve miles ahead on the trail, so that when we
overtook the Indians we could find out thelocationof their camp,
and send word to the troops before they came in sight, thus

affording ample time to
arrange a plan for the
capture of the village.

After having gone about
ten miles in advance of the
regiment, we began to
move very cautiously, as
v/e were now evidently
nearing rne Indians. We
looked carefully over the
summits of the hills before
exposing ourselves to plain
view, and at last we dis-
covered the village, en-
camped in the sand-hills south of the South Platte river at Sum-
mit Springs. Here I left the Pawnee scouts to keep watch, while
I went back and informed General Carr that the Indians were in
sight.

The General at once ordered his men to tighten their saddles
and otherwise prepare for action. Soon aU was excitement
among the officers and soldiers, every one being anxious to charge
the village. I now changed my horse for old Buckskin Joe, who
had been led for me thus far, and was comparatively fresh. Act-
ing on my suggestion, the General made a circuit to the north,
believing that if the Indians had their scouts out, they would

GEN. E. A. CARR.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 197

Daturally be watching in the direction whence they had come.
When we had passed the Indians and were between them and
the Platte river, we turned toward the left and started toward
the village.

By this manoBuver we had avoided discovery by the Siou3^
scouts, and we were confident of giving them a complete surprise.
Keeping the command wholly out of sight, until we were within
a mile of the Indians, the General halted the advance guard until
all closed up, and then issued an order that, when he sounded the
charge, the whole command was to rush into the village.

A CHARGE THROUGH THE INDIAN VILLAGE.

As we halted on the top of the hill overlooking the camp of the
unsuspecting Indians, General Carr called out to his bugler:
''Sound the charge!" The bugler for a moment became in-
tensely excited, and actually forgot the notes. The General
again sang out: "Sound the charge!'' and yet the bugler was
unable to obey the command. Quartermaster Hays — who had
obtained permission to accompany the expedition — was riding
near the General, and comprehending the dilemma of the man,
rushed up to him, jerked the bugle from his hands and sounded
the charge himself in clear and distinct notes. As the troops
rushed forward, he threw the bugle away, then drawing his pis-
tols, was among the first men that entered the village.

The Indians had just driven up their horses and were prepar-
ing to make a move of the camp, when they saw the soldiers
coming down upon them. A great many of them succeeded in
jumping upon their ponies, and leaving everything behind them,
advanced out of the village and prepared to meet the charge ; but
upon second thought they quickly concluded that it was useless
to try to check us, and those who were mounted rapidly rode
away, while the others on foot fled for safety to the neighboring
hills. We went through their village, shooting right and left at
everything we saw. The Pawnees, the regular soldiers and offi-
cers were all mixed up together, and the Sioux were flying in
every direction.

ACTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL, 199

The pursuit continued until darkness made it impossible to
longer follow the Indians, who had scattered and were leading
off in every direction like a brood of young quails. The expedi-
tion went into camp along the South Platte, much exhausted by
so long a chase, and though very tired, every trooper seemed
anxious for the morrow.

It was nearly sunrise when *' boots and saddles " was sounded,
breakfast having been disposed of at break of day. The com-
mand started in a most seasonable time, but finding that the trail
was all broken up, it was deemed anvisable to separate into com-
panies, each to follow a different trail.

The company which I headed struck out toward the North-
west over a route indicating the march of about one hundred
Indians, and followed this for nearly two days. At a short
bend of the Platte a new trail was discovered leading into the
one the company was following, and at this point it was evident
that a junction had been made. Further along evidences of a re-
union of the entire village increased, and now it began to appear
that further pursuit would be somewhat hazardous, owing to the
largely increased force of Indians. But there were plenty of
brave men in the company and nearly all were anxious to meet
the Indians, however great their numbers might be. This anx-
iety was appeased on the third day, when a party of about six
hundred Sioux was discovered riding in close ranks near the
Platte. The discovery was mutual and there was immediate
preparation for battle on both sides. Owing to the overwhelm-
ing force of the Indians, extreme caution became necessary, and
instead of advancing boldly the soldiers sought advantageous
ground. Seeing this, the Indians became convinced that there
had been a division in Gen. Carr's command and that the com-
pany before them was a fragmentary part of the expedition;
they therefore assumed the aggressive, charging us until we
were compelled to retire to a ravine and act on the defensive.
The attack was made with such caution that the soldiers fell back
without undue haste, and had ample opportunity to secure their
horses in the natural pit, which was a ravine that during wet
seasons formed a branch of the Platte.

200 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

CORRALLED BY HOSTILES.

After circling about the soldiers with the view of measuring
their fuil strength, the Indians, comprehending how small was
the number, made a desperate charge from two sides, getting so
near us that several of the soldiers were badly wounded by ar-
rows. But the Indians were received with such withering fire
that they fell back in confusion, leaving twenty of their warriors
on the ground. Another charge resulted like the first, with
heavy loss to the red-skins, which so discouraged them that they
drew off and held a long council. After discussing the situation
among themselves for more than an hour they separated, one
body making off as though they intended to leave, but I under-
stood their motions too well to allow the soldiers to be deceived.
The Indians that remained again began to ride in a circle around
us, but maintained a safe distance, out of rifle range. Seeing an
especially well mounted Indian riding at the head of a squad,
passing aroand in the same circle more than a dozen times, I de-
cided to take my chances for dismounting the chief (as he proved
to be) and to accomplish this purpose I crawled on my hands and
knees three hundred yards up the ravine, stopping at a point
which I considered would be in range of the Indian when he
should again make the circuit. My judgment proved correct, for
soon the Indian was seen loping his pony through the grass, and
as he slackened speed to cross the ravine, I rose up and fired,
the aim being so well taken that the chief tumbled to the ground
while his horse, after running a few hundred yards, approached
the soldiers, one of whom ran out and caught hold of the long
lariat attached to the bridle, and thus secured the animal. When
I returned to the company, all of whom had witnessed my feat
of killing an Indian at a range of fully four hundred yards, by
general consent the horse of my victim was given to me.

This Indian whom I killed proved to be Tall Bull, one of the
most cunning and able chiefs the Sioux ever had, and his '^eath
so affected the Indians that they at once retreated without furthei
attempt to dislodge us.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

201

Some days after this occurrence Gen. Carr's command was
brought together again, and had an engagement with the Sioux,
in which more than three hundred warriors and a large number of
ponies were captured, together with several hundred squaws, among
the latter being Tall Bull's widow, who told with pathetic interest

THE KILLING OP CHIEF TALL BULL.

how the Prairie Chief* had ,
killed her husband. But in- 4
stead of being moved with v
hatred against me, as most ^
jivilized women would have
been under like circum-
stances, she regarded me with
special favor, and esteemed it quite an honor that her husband,
a great warrior himself , should have met his death at my hands.

* Fop many years I was known among all Northern Indians as the PralrU
Chief.

202 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

MT MEETING WITH NED BUNTLINE.

The expedition having succeeded in thoroughly dispersing and
punishing the Sioux, Gen. Carr went into barracks at Fort Sedg-
wick, but we had not remained long in quarters before reports
of fresh outbreaks reached us and we had therefore to remain in
constant expectation of orders for moving.

One day, while we were lying at Fort Sedgwick, General Carr
received a telegram from Fort McPherscn stating that the Indians
had made a dash on the Union Pacific railroad, derailing a
freight train, from which they captured several bolts of calico
and other dry goods, and had killed several section-men, besides
running off some stock near O'Fallon's station; also that an
expedition was going out from Fort McPherson to catch and
punish the red-skins if possible. The General ordered me to
accompany the expedition, and accordingly that night I proceeded
by rail to McPherson station, and from thence rode on horseback
to the fort. Two companies, under command of Major Brown,
had been ordered out, and next morning, just as we were about
to start. Major Brown said to me :

** By the way, Cody, we are going to have quite an important
character with us as a guest on this scout. It's old Ned Buntline,
the novelist."

Just then I noticed a gentleman, who was rather stoutly built,
and who wore a blue military coat, on the left breast of which
were pinned about twenty gold medals and badges of secret
societies. He walked a little lame as he approached us, and I at
once concluded that he was Ned Buntline.

** He has a good mark to shoot at on the left breast," said I to
Major Brown, ** but he looks like a soldier." As he came up^
Major Brown said:

** Cody, allow me to introduce you to Colonel E. B. C. Judson,
otherwise known as Ned Buntline."

** Colonel Judson, I am glad to meet you," said I; ** the Major
tells me that you are to accompany us on the scout."

" Yefih my boy, so I am," said he; ** I was to deliver a tern-

:}!] ; I Hi il J.

204

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

perance lecture to-night, but no lectures for me when there is a
prospect for a fight. The Major has kindly offered me a horse,
but I don't know how Til stand the ride, for I haven't done any
riding lately ; but when I was a young man I spent several years
among the fur companies of the Northwest, and was a good rider
and an excellent shot."

'* The Major has given you a fine horse, and you'll soon find
yourself at home in the saddle," said I.

The command soon pulled out for the South Platte river,
which was very wide and high, owing to recent mountain rains,
and in crossing i': we had to swim our horses in some places.

THE LA.ST OP THE BUFFALOES — GATHERING THE BONES.

Buntline was the first man across. We reached O' Fallon's at
eleven o'clock, and in a short time I succeeded in finding the In-
dian trail; the party seemed to be a small one, which had come
up from the south. We followed their track to the North Platte,
but as they had a start of two days. Major Brown abandoned the
pursuit, and returned to Fort McPherson, while I went back to
Fort Sedgwick, accompanied by Buntline.

During this short scout, Buntline had asked me a great many
questions, and he was determined to go out on the next expeditioii
with me, providing he could obtain permission frcni the tx)m-

AUTOBIOGKAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL, 205

manding officer. I introduced him to the officers — excepting
those he already knew — and invited him to become my guest
while he remained at the post, and gave him my pony Powder
Face to ride.

HORSE RACING IN THE HOSTILE COUNTRY.

By this time I had learned that my horse Tall Bull was a re-
markably fast runner, and therefore when Lieutenant Mason, who
was quite a sport and owned a racer, challenged me to a race, I
immediately accepted it. We were to run our horses a single
dash of half a mile for one hundred dollars a side. Several of
the officers, and also Reub. "Wood, the post-trader, bantered me
for side bets, and I took them all until I had put up my last cent
on Tall Bull.

The ground was measured off, the judges were selected, and all
other preliminaries were arranged . We rode our horses ourselves ,
and coming up to the score nicely we let them go. I saw from
the start that it would be mere play to beat the Lieutenant's horse,
and therefore I held Tall Bull in check, so that none could see
how fast he really could run. I easily won the race, and pocketed
a snug little sum of money. Of course everybody was now
talking horse. iJajor North remarked that if Tall Bull could
beat the Pawnees' fast horse, I could break his whole command.

The next day the troops were paid ofp, the Pawnees with the
rest, and for two or three days they did nothing but run horse-
races, as all the recently captured horses had to be tested to find
out the swiftest among them. Finally the Pawnees wanted to
run their favorite horse against Tall Bull, and I accordingly ar-
ranged a race with them. They raised three hundred dollars
and bet it on their horse, v^hile of course I backed Tall Bull
with an equal amount, and in addition took numerous side bets.
The race was a single dash of a mile, and Tall Bull won it with-
out any difficulty. I was ahead on this race about seven hun-
dred dollars, and the horse was fast getting a reputation. Here-
tofore nobody would bet on him, but now he had plenty of
backers.

206 STORY OP THE WILD WEST.

THE TRICK OF POWDER-FACE.

I also made a run for my pony Powder Face against a fast
pony belonging to Captain Lute North. I selected a small boy
living at the post to ride Powder Face, while an Indian boy was
to ride the other pony. The Pawnees as usual wanted to bet on
their pony, but as I had not fully ascertained the running quali-
ties of Powder Face, I did not care about risking very much
money on him. Had I known him as well then as I did after-
wards I woujd have backed him for every dollar I had, for he
proved to be one of the swiftest ponies I ever saw, and had evi-
dently been kept as a racer.

The race was to be four hundred yards, and when I led the
pony over the track he seemed to understand what he was there
for. North and I finally put the riders on, and it was all I could
do to hold the fiery little animal after the boy became seated on
his back. He jumped around and made such quick movements,
that the boy was not at all confident of being able to stay on him.
The order to start was at last given by the judges, and as I
brought Powder Face up to the score and the word " go " was
given, he jumped away so quickly that he left his rider sitting
on the ground; notwithstanding, he ran through and won the race
without him. It was an easy victory, and after that I could get
up no more races. Thus passed the time while we were at Fort
Sedgwick.

General Carr having obtained a leave of absence. Colonel
Eoyal was given the command of an expedition that was ordered
to go out after the Indians, and in a few days — after having
rested a couple of weeks — we set out for the Republican, having
learned that there were plenty of Indians in that section of the
country. At Frenchman's fork we discovered an Indian village,
but did not surprise it, for its people had noticed us approach-
ing, and were retreating when we reached their camping place.
We chased them down the stream, and they finally turned to the
left, went north and crossed the South Platte river five miles
above Ogalalla. We pushed rapidly after them, following them

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BIU 207

across the North Platte and on through the sanC nills towards the
Niobrara, but as they were making much better time than we, the
pursuit was abandoned.

AN INTERESTING INDIAN TRADITION,

While we were in the sand hills, scouting the Niobrara country,
the Pawnee Indians brought into camp, one nighty s^ome very
large bones, one of which a surgeon of the expedition pro-
nounced to be the thigh bone of a human being. The Indians
claimed that the bones they had found were those of a person
belonging to a race of people who a long time ago lived in this
country : That there was once a race of men on the earth whose
size was about three times that of an ordinary man, and they
were so swift and powerful that they could run alongside of a
buffalo, and taking the animal in one arm could tear off a leg and
eat the meat as they walked. These giants denied the existence
of a Great Spirit, and when they heard the thunder or saw the
lightning they laughed at it and said they were greater than
either. This so displeased the Great Spirit that he caused a
great rain storm to come, and the water kept rising higher and
higher so that it drove those proud and conceited giants from the
low grounds to the hills, and thence to the mountains, but at last
even the mountain tops were submerged, and then those mam-
moth men were all drowned. After the flood had subsided, the
Great Spirit came to the conclusion that he had made man too
large and powerful, and that he would therefore correct the mis-
take by creating a race of men of smaller size and less strength.
This is the reason, say the Indians, that modern men are small
and not like the giants of old, and they claim that this story is a
matter of Indian history, which has been handed down among
them from time immemorial.

As we had no wagons with us at the time this large and heavy
bone was found, we were obliged to leave it.

208

CHAPTER XVI.

80MB PLEASING NOVELTIES.

EMAINING at Fort Sedgwick during the win-
ter, early in the following spring I returned
to Fort McPherson under orders to report to
Major-General Emory, of the Fifth Cav-
alry, who had been appointed commandant
of the district of the Republican, with
headquarters at that post.

As the command had been continually
in the field, it was generally thought that
we were to have a long rest; and it
looked as if this post was to be my home
and headquarters for some time to come. I accordingly sent to
St. Louis for my wife and daughter to join me there. General
Emory promised to build a house for me, but before the building
was completed my family arrived.

During the fall of 1869 there were two or three scouting expe-
ditions sent out ; but nothing of very great importance was ac-
complished by them* I found Fort McPherson to be a lively
and pleasant post to be stationed at, especially as there was
plenty of game in the vicinity, and within a day's ride there were
large herds of deer, antelope and elk.

During the winter of 1869-70 I spent a great deal of time in
pursuit of game, and during the season we had two hunting par-
ties of Englishmen there; one party being that of Mr. Flynn,
and the other that of George Boyd Houghton, of London — the
well-known caricaturist. Among the amusements which I ar-
ranged for the party's entertainment were several horse races,
in which, however, Tall Bull and Powder Face were invariably
the winners, much to my profit. Tall Bull by this time had such
a reputation as a running l^orse, that it was difficult to make a

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

209

race for him. I therefore had recourse to a novel proposition in
order to run him against a horse in Captain Spaulding's company
cf the Second Cavalry.

This race was an interesting affair. I made a bet that Tall
Bull would beat the Second Cavalry horse around a one mile
track, and that during the time he was running, I would jump off
and on the horse eight times. I rode the horse bareback, seized
his mane with my left hand, rested my right on his withers, and

ANTELOPE CHASING.

while he was going at full speed, I jumped to the ground, and
sprang again upon his back, eight times in succession. Such
feats I had seen performed in the circus and I had practiced con-
siderably at it with Tall Bull, so that I was certain of winning the
race in the manner agreed upon.

IN PURSUIT OF INDIAN HORSE THIEVES.

Early one morning, in the spring of 1870, the Indians, who
had approached dui-ing the night, stole some twenty-one head

210 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

li horses from Mr. John Burke — a government contractor —
Ben Gallagher and Jack Waite. They also ran off some horses
from the post, among the number being my pony Powder Face.
The commandant at once ordered out Lieutenant Thomas with
Company I of the Fifth Cavalry, and directed me to accompany
them as trailer. We discovered the trail after some little diffi-
culty, as the Indians were continually trying to hide it, and fol-
lowed it sixty miles, when darkness set in.

We were now within about four miles of Red Willow creek
and I felt confident the Indians would camp that night in that
vicinity. Advising Lieutenant Thomas to halt his company and
<* lay low " I proceeded on to the creek, where moving around
cautiously, I suddenly discovered horses feeding in a bend of the
stream on the opposite side. I hurried back to the troops with
the information, and Lieutenant Thomas moved his company to
the bank of the creek, with the intention of remaining there un-
til daylight, and then, if possible, surprise the Indians.

Just at break of day we mounted our horses, and after riding
a short distance we ascended a slight elevation, when, not over
>ne hundred yards distant, we looked down into the Indian camp.
The Indians, preparing to make an early start, had driven up
their horses and were in the act of mounting, when they saw us
charging down upon them. In a moment they sprang upon their
ponies and dashed away-. Had it not been for the creek, which
lay between us and them, we would have got them before they
could have mounted their horses; but as it was rather miry, we
were unexpectedly delayed. The Indians fired some shots
at us while we were crossing, but as soon as we got over we
went for them in hot pursuit. A few of the red-skins had not
bad time to mount and had started on foot down the creek to-
wards the brush. One of these was killed.

TWO INDIANS BAGGED AT A SINGLE SHOT.

A number of our soldiers, who had been detailed before the
charge to gather up any of the Indian horses that might be stam-
peded, succeeded in capturing thirty-two. I hurriedly looked

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP BUFFALO BILL. 211

over them to see if Powder Face was among them ; but he was
not there. Starting in pursuit of the fugitives I finally espied
an Indian mounted on my favorite, dashing away and leading all
the others. We continued the chase for two or three miles,
overtaking a couple who were mounted on one horse. Com-
ing up behind them I fired my rifle, when about thirty feet dis-
tant; the ball passed through the backs of both, and they fell
headlong to the ground; but I made no stop however just then,
for I had my eye on the gentleman who was riding Powder Face.
It seemed to be fun for him to run away from us, and run away he
did, for the last I saw of him was
when he went over a divide, about
three miles away. I bade him
adieu. On my way back to the
Indian camp I stopped and secured
the war bonnets and accoutre-
ments of the pair I had killed, and
at the same time gently ** raised
their hair."

We were feeling rather tired and
hungry, as we had started out on ^ ^^^^ "^^^^^^ ^^ victort.
the trail thirty-six hours before without a breakfast or taking
any food with us; but not a murmur or complaint was heard
among the men. In the abandoned Indian camp, however, we
found enough dried buffalo meat to give us all a meal, and after
remaining there for two hours, to rest our animals, we started on
our return to Fort McPherson, where we arrived at night, having
traveled 130 miles in two days.

This being the first fight Lieutenant Thomas had ever com-
manded in, he felt highly elated over his success, and hoped that
his name would be mentioned in the special orders for gallantry ;
sure enough, when we returned both he, myself and the whole
command received complimentary mention in a special order.
This he certainly deserved for he was a brave, energetic, dashing
little officer. The war bonnets which I had captured I turned
over tc General Carr, with the request that he present them to

212 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

General Aagur, whose daughters were visiting at the post at the
time.

A TOUGH OFFICER

Shortly after this, another expedition was organized at Fort
McPherson for the Kepublican river country. It was com-
manded by General Duncan, who was a jolly, blustering old fel-
low, and the officers who knew him well said that we would have
a good time, as he was very fond of hunting. He was a good
fighter, and one of the officers said that an Indian bullet never
could hurt him, as he had been shot in the head with a cannon
ball which had not injured him in the least ; another said the ball
glanced off and killed one of the toughest mules in the army.

The Pawnee scouts, who had been mustered out of service dur-
ing the winter of 1869 and '70 we reorganized to accompany
this expedition. I was glad of this, as I had become quite at-
tached to one of the officers, Major North, and to many of the
Indians. The only white scout we had at the post, besides my-
self at that time, was John Y. Nelson, whose Indian name was
Sha-Cha-Cha-Opoyeo,* which interpreted means Eed-Willow-
Fill-the-Pipe. This man is a character in his way; he has a
Sioux squaw for a wife, and consequently a half-breed family.

We started out from the post with the regimental band play-
ing the lively air of '« The Girl I Left Behind Me." We made
but a short march that day, and camped at night at the head of
Fox creek. Next morning General Duncan sent me word by his
orderly that I was to bring up my gun and shoot at a mark with
him ; but I can assure the reader that I did not feel much like
shooting anything except myself, for on the night before I had
returned to Fort McPherson and spent several hours in inter-
viewing the sutler's store in company with Major Brown. I
looked around for my gun and found that I had left it behind.
The last I could remember about it was that I had it at the sut-
ler's store, I informed Major Brown of my loss, who said that

♦ Who Is still shooting Indians from the top of the ol<J Deadwooct atage
eoachln the Wild West show.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL 213

J was a nice scout to start out without a gun. I replied that that
was not the worst of it, as General Duncan had sent for me to
shoot a match with him, and I did not know what to do ; for if
the old gentleman discovered my predicament, he would very
likely severely reprimand me.

*«Well, Cody,'* said he, *«the best you can do is to make
some excuse, and then go and borrow a gun from some of the
men, and tell the General that you lent yours to some man to go
hunting with to-day. While we are waiting here, I wull send
back to the post and get your rifle for you." I succeeded in
obtaining a gun from John Nelson, and then marching up to
the General's headquarters I shot the desired match with him,
which resulted in his favor.

This was the first scout the Pawnees had been out on under
command of General Duncan, and in stationing his guards
around the camp he posted them in a manner entirely different
from that of General Carr and Colonel Royal, as he insisted
that the different posts should call out the hour of the night
thus :

THE PAWNEE INDIAN ON GUARD DUTY.

" Post No. 1, nine o'clock, all is well I Post No. 2, nine
o'clock, all is well ! " etc.

The Pawnees, who had their regular turns at standing upon
guard, were ordered to call the hour the same as the white soldiers.
This was very difficult for them to do, as there were but few of
them who could express themselves in English. Major North
explained to them that when the man on post next to them should
call out the hour, they must call it also as nearly like him as
possible. It was very amusing to hear them do this. They would
try to remember what the other man had said on the post next
to them. For instance, a white soldier would call out: <« Post
No. 1, half-past nine o'clock, all is well ! " The Indian standing
next to him knew that Ijie was bound to say something in English,
and he would sing out something like the following:

" Poss number half pass five cents — go to ! I don't care ! "

This system was really so ridiculous and amusing that the

214 STORY OP THE WILD WEST.

General had to give it up, and the order was accordingly connter-
manded.

Nothing of any great interest occurred on this march, until one
day, while proceeding up Prairie Dog creek,* Major North and
myself went out in advance of the command several miles and
killed a number of buffaloes. Night was approaching, and I be-
gan to look around for a suitable camping ground for the com-
mand. Major North di smounted from his horse and was resting,
while I rode down to the stream to see if there was plenty of
grass in the vicinity. I found an excellent camping spot, and
returning to Major North told him that I would ride over the hill
a little way, so that the advance guard could see me. This I did,
and when the advance came in sight I dismounted and laid down
upon the grass to rest.

A RED HOT SITUATION.

Suddenly I heard three or four shots, and in a few moments
Major North came dashing up towards me, pursued by eight or
ten Indians. I instantly sprang into my saddle, and fired a few
shots at the Indians, who by this time had all come in sight, to
^he number of fifty. We turned our horses and ran, the bullets
Jying after us thick and fast — my whip being shot from my
nand and daylight being put through the crown of my hat. We
were in close quarters, when suddenly Lieutenant Valkmar came
galloping up to our relief with several soldiers, and the Indians
seeing them whirled and retreated. Ak^ soon as Major North got
in sight of his Pawnees, he began riding in a circle. This was a
sign to them that there were hostile Indians in front, and in a mo-
ment the Pawnees broke ranks pell-mell and, with Major North
at their head, started for the flying warriors. The rest of the
command pushed rapidly forward also, and chased the enemy for
three or four miles, killing three of them.

But this was a wrong move on our part, as their village was on
Prairie Dog creek, while they led us in a different direction ; one

* Near the lonely camp where I had so long been laid up with a broken leg,
when trapping years before with Dave Harrington.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

215

Indian only kept straight on up the creek — a messenger to the
village. Some of the command who had followed him, stirred

up the village and
accelerated i t s
departure. We
finally got back
to the main force,
and then learned
that we had made
a great mistake.
Now commenced
another stern
chase.

The second

day that we had

been following

^ — ™«.«=«._™^-™^.>..«,^««^ ^=^ «.«uMuu vvxx «, these Indians we

g j^HHHii^^^^^^^^^^^^^K^^ . ^ V came upon an old

squaw, whom
they had left on
the prairie to die.
Her people had
built for her a
little shade or
lodge, and had
given her some
provisions, suf-
ficient to last her
on her trip to the
Happy Hunting
grounds. This
the Indians often
do when pursued
by an enemy,
and one of their number becomes too old and feeble to travel any
longer. This squaw was recognized by John Nelson who said she

216

STORY OP THE WILD WEST

was a relative of his wife. From her we learned that the flying
Indians were known as Pawnee-Killer's band, and that they had

lately killed Buck's surveying party, consisting of eight or nine
men; the massacre having occurred a few days before on Beaver

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 217

creek. We knew that they had had a fight with the surveyors,
as Vie found quite a number of surveying instruments, which had
been left in the abandoned camp. We drove these Indians
across the Platte river and then returned to Fort McPherson,
bringing the old squaw with us ; from there she was sent to the
Spotted Tail agency.

During my absence, my wife had given birth to a son, and he
was several weeks old when I returned. No name had yet been
given to him and I selected that of Elmo Judson, in honor of Ned
Buntline; but this the officers and scouts objected to. Major
Brown proposed that we should call him Kit Carson, and it was
finally settled that that should be his name.

During the summer we made one or two more scouts and had
a few skirmishes with the Indians : but nothing of any great im-
portance transpired. In the fall of 1870, while I was a witness
in a court-martial at Fort D. A. Russell I woke up one morning
and found that I was dead broke, — this is not an unusual occur-
rence to a frontiersman, or an author I may add, especially when
he is endeavoring to kill time — and to raise necessary funds I sold
my race-horse Tall Bull to Lieutenant Mason, who had long
wanted him.

In the winter of 1870 and 1871 I first met George Watts Gar-
land, an English gentleman, and a great hunter, whom I had the
pleasure of guiding on several hunts and with whom I spent some
weeks. During the winter I also took several parties out on the
Loupe river country hunting and trapping. Although I was
still chief of scouts I did not have much to do, as the Indians
were comparatively quiet, thus giving me plenty of time for
sporting.

In the spring of 1871 several short scouting expeditions were
sent out from Fort McPherson, but all v/ith minor results.

APPOINTED JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

About this time General Emory was considerably annoyed by
petty offenses committed in the vicinity of the post, and as there
was no justice of the peace in the neighborhood, he was anxious

218 STORY OP THE WILD WEST.

to have such an officer there to attend to the civilians ; one day
he remarked to me that I would make an excellent justice.

" General, you compliment me rather too highly, for I don't
know any more about law than a government mule does about
book-keeping/' said I.

**That doesn't make any difference," said he, "for I know
that you will make a good 'Squire." He accordingly had the
county commissioners appoint me to the office of justice of the
peace, and I soon received my commission.

One morning a man came rushing up to my house and stated
that he wanted to get out a writ of replevin, to recover posses-
sion of a horse which a stranger was taking out of the country.
I had no blank forms, and had not yet received the statutes of
Nebraska to copy from, so I asked the man:

" Where is the fellow who has got your horse ? "

<« He is going up the road, and is about two miles way," re-
plied he.

*' Very well," said I, ** I will get the writ ready in a minute
or two." I saddled up my horse, and then taking my old re-
liable gun, *' Lucretia," I said to the man: " That's the best writ
of replevin that I can think of ; come along, and we'll get that
horse, or know the reason why." We soon overtook the stranger,
who was driving a herd of horses, and as we came up to him,
I said: "Hello, sir; I am an officer, and have an attachment
for that horse," and at the same time I pointed out the animal.

** Well, sir, what are you going to do about it? " he inquired.

"I propose to take you and the horse back to the post,"
said I.

"You can take the horse," said he, " but I haven't the time
to return with you. ' '

" You'll have to take the time, or pay the cost here and now,"
said I.

" How much are the costs? "

"Twenty dollars."

" Here's your money," said he, as he handed me the green-
backs.

AUTOBIOGRAPHr OF BUFTALO BILL. 219

I then gave him a little friendly advice and told him that ha
was released from custody. He went on his way a wiser and a
poorer man, while the owner of the horse and myself returned
to the fort. I pocketed the twenty dollars, of course. Some
people might think it was not a square way of doing business,
but I didn't know any better just then. I had several little cases
of this kind, and I became better posted on the law in the course
of time, being assisted by Lieutenant Burr lleilly, of the Fifth
Cavalry, who had been educated for a lawyer.

PERFOKMING A MARRIAGE CEREMONY.

One evening I was called upon to perform a marriage cere-
mony. The bridegroom was one of the sergeants of the post
I had " braced up " for the occasion by imbibing rather freelj
of stimulants, and when I arrived at thh house with a copy of the
Statutes of Nebraska, which I had recently received, I felt some-
what confused. Whether my bewilderment was owing to the
importance of the occasion and the large assembly, or to the
effect of Louis Woodin's '* tanglefoot," I cannot now distinctly
remember — but my suspicions have always been that it was due
to the latter cause. I looked carefully through the statutes to
find the marriage ceremony, but my efforts were unsuccessful .
Finally the time came for the knot to be tied. I told the couple
to stand up and then I said to the bridegroom: ** Do you
take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife, to support and
love her through life?**

'* I do," was the reply.

Then addressing myself to the bride, I said: ** Do you take
this man to be your lawful wedder* b'lsband thrcvigh life, to love,
honor and obey him ? "

•* I do," was her response.

* * Then join hands, * * said I to both of them 5 * « I now pronounce
you to be man and wife, and whomsoever God and Buffalo Bill
have joined together let no man put asunder. May you live long
and prosper. Amen.**

This concluded the interesting ceremony, which was followed

220

STORr OF THE WILD WEST

by the usual festirities on such occasions. I was highly com-
plimented for the elegant and eloquent manner in which I had
tied the matrimonial knot.

Durii.g the summer of 1871, Professor Marsh, of Yale College,
came out to MoPherson with a large party of students to have
a hunt and to look for fossils. Professor Marsh had heard of
the big bone which had been found by the Pawnees in the Nio-
brara country, and he intended to look for that as well as other
bones. He
accord-
ingly se-
cured the
s e r V i ces
of Major
F. North
a nd the
Pawnees
as an
escoi-t. I
was also
to a c -
company
the bone-
hunters,
and would

have done performing a marriage ceremony.

so had it not been for the fact that just at that time I was ordered
out with a small scouting party to go after some Indians.

A RUN FOR OUR LIVES.

The day before the Professor arrived at the fort I had been
out hunting on the north side of the North Platte river, near
Pawnee Springs, with several companions, when we were sud-
denly attacked by Indians, who wounded one of our number,
John Weister. We stood the Indians off for a little while, and
Weister got even with them by killing one of their party.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 221

The Indians, .however, outnumbered us, and at last we were
forced to make a run for our lives. In this we succeeded and
reached the fort in safety. The General wanted to have the
Indians pursued and said he could not spare me to accompany
Professor Marsh.

However, I had the opportunity to make the acquaintance of
the eminent Professor, whom I found to be not only a well-
posted person, but a very entertainmg gentleman. He gave me
a geological history of the country, told me in what section fos-
sils were to be found, and otherwise entertained me with several
scientific yarns, some of which seemed too complicated and too
mysterious to be believed by an ordinary man like myself; but
it was all clear to him. I rode out with him several miles, as he
was starting on his bone-huntmg expedition, and I greatly en-
joyed the trip. His party had been provided with government
transportation and his students were all mounted on government
horses. As we rode along he delivered a scientific lecture and he
convinced me that he knew what he was talking about. I finally
bade him good-bye and returned to the post. While the fossil-
hunters were out on their expedition we had several lively little
skirmishes with the Indians. After having been absent some
little time Professor Marsh and his party came back with their
wagons loaded down with all kinds of bones and the Professor
was in his glory. He had evidently struck a bone-yard, and
" gad I 'V* wasn't he happy ! But they had failed to find the big
bone which the Pawnees had unearthed the year before.

* A favorite expression of tiie Professor's.

i222

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

CHAPTER XVn.

HELPING TO ENTERTAIN A DISTINGUISHED PARTT,

OST Mcpherson was in the center
of a fine game country, in which
buffalo were particularly plentiful, and
though fairly surrounded by hostile In-
dians, it offered so many attractions for
sportsmen that several hunting parties
braved the dangers for the pleasure of
buffalo-chasing. In September, 1871, General
Sheridan brought a number of friends out to the
post for a grand hunt, coming by way of North
Platte in a special car, and thence by govern-
* ment wagons to the fort, which was only
eighteen miles from that station.

The party consisted of General Sheridan, Law-
rence R. Jerome, James Gordon Bennett, of the
.'"^^^ New York Herald; Leonard W. Jerome, Carroll
C.J^ " Livingston, Major J. G. Hecksher, General Fitz-
/hT^ hugh, General H. E. Davies, Captain M. Edward

Rogers, Colonel J. Schuyler Crosby, Samuel John-
son, General Anson Stager, of the Western Union Telegraph
Company; Charles Wilson, editor of the Chicago Evening Jow-
nal; General Rucker, Quartermaster-General, and Dr. Asch — ■
the two last named being of General Sheridan's staff. They
were met at the station by General Emory and Major Brown,
with a cavalry company as escort and a sufficient number of
vehicles to carry the distinguished visitors and their baggage.

A brisk drive of less than two hours over a hard and smooth
road brought them to the fort, where they found the garrison,
consisting of five companies of the Fifth Cavalry, under the
command of General Carr, out on parade awaiting their arrival.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 223

The band played some martial music, and the cavalry passed
very handsomely in review before General Sheridan. The guests
were then most hospitably received, and assigned to comfortable
quarters.

Lieutenant Hayes, the quartermaster of the expedition, ar-
ranged everything for the comfort of the party. One hundred
cavalry under command of Major Brown were detailed as an
escort. A train of sixteen wagons was provided to carry the
baggage, supplies, and forage for the trip; and, besides these,
there were three four-horse ambulances in which the guns were
carried, and in which members of the party who became weary
of the saddle might ride and rest. At General Sheridan's re-
quest I was to accompany the expedition ; he introduced me to
all his friends, and gave me a good send-off.

During the afternoon and evening the gentlemen were all en-
tertained at the post in a variety of ways, including dinner and
supper parties, and music and dancing; at a late hour they re-
tired to rest in their tents at the camp which they occupied out-
side the post — named Camp Rucker, in honor of General
Rucker.

PUTTING ON A LITTLE STYLE FOR THE OCCASION.

At five o'clock next morning a cavalry bugle sounded the
reveille, and soon all were astir in the camp, preparatory to pull-
ing out for the first day's march. I rose fresh and eager for the
trip, and as it was a nobby and high-toned outfit which I was to
accompany, I determined to put on a little style myself. • So I
dressed in a new suit of light buckskin, trimmed along the seams
with fringes of the same material ; and I put on a crimson shirt
handsomely ornamented on the bosom, while on my head I wore
a broad sombrero. Then mounting a snowy white horse — a gal-
lant stepper — I rode down from the fort to the camp, rifle in
hand. I felt first-rate that morning, and looked well.

The expedition was soon under way. Our road for ten miles
wound through a wooded ravine called Cottonwood canon, inter-
secting the high ground, or divide, as it is called, between the

224 STORY OF THE WILD WEST,

Platte and Eepublican rivers. Upon emerging from the canon
we found ourselves upon the plains. First in the line rode Gen-
eral Sheridan, followed by his guests, and then the orderlies.
Then came the ambulances, in one of which were carried ^ve
greyhounds, brought along to course the antelope and rabbit.
With the ambulances marched a pair of Indian ponies belonging
to Lieutenant Hayes — captured during some Indian fight — and
harnessed to a light wagon, which General Sheridan occasionally
used. These little horses, but thirteen hands high, showed more
vigor and endurance than any other of the animals we had with
us. Following the ambulances came the main body of the escort
and the supply wagons.

We marched seventeen miles the first day, and went into camp
on Fox creek, a tributary of the Republican. No hunting had
as yet been done; but I informed the gentlemen of the party
that we would strike the buffalo country the next day. A hun-
dred or more questions were then asked me by this one and that
one, and the whole evening was spent principally in buffalo talk,
sandwiched w^ith stories of the plains — both of war and of the
chase. Several of the party, who were good vocalists, gave us
some excellent music. We closed the evening by christening the
camp, naming it Camp Brown, in honor of the gallant officer, in
command of the escort.

At three o'clock next morning the bugle called us to an early
start. We had breakfast at half -past four, and at six were in
the saddle. All were eager to see and shoot the buffaloes,
which I assured them we would certainly meet during the day.
After marching five miles, the advance guard, of which I had
the command, discovered six buffaloes grazing at a distance of
about two miles from us. We returned to the hunters with this
information, and they at once consulted with me as to the best
•yay to attack the ** enemy.*'

AN ATTACK ON THE BUFFALOEP*

Acting upon my suggestions, Fitzhugh, Crosby, Lawrence
J«rome, Livingston, Hecksher and Rogers, accompanied by my-

SITTING BULL, OR TATANKA YOTANKA,

RENOWNED SIOUX CHIEF AND MEDICINE MAN.
Photo by D. F. Barry.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

225

self as guide, rode through a convenient canon to a point beyond
the buffaloes, so that we were to the windward of the animals.
The rest of the party made a detour of nearly ^ye miles, keep-
ing behind the crest of a hill. We charged down upon the buf-
faloes at full gallop, and just then the other party emerged
from their concealment and witnessed the exciting chase. The
buffaloes started off in a line, single file. Fitzhugh, after a
lively gallop, led us all and soon came alongside the rear buffalo,
at which he fired. The ani-
mal faltered, and then with
another shot Fitzhugh brought
him to the ground. Crosby
dashed by him and leveled an-
other of the herd, while
Livingston dropped a third.
Those who were not directly
engaged in the hunt now came
7ip and congratulated the men
upon their success, and Fitz-
hugh was at once hailed as the
winner of the buffalo-cup,
while all sympathized with*
Hecksher, whose chance had
been the best at the start, but
who lost by reason of his
horse falling and rolling over
him.

The hunt being over, the column moved forward on its march,
passing through a prairie-dog town, several miles in extent.
These animals are found throughout the plains, living together
in a sort of society ; their numberless burrows in their ** towns ''
adjoin each other, so that great care is necessary in riding
through these places, as the ground is so undermined as often to
fall in under the weight of a horse. Around the entrance to
their holes the ground is piled up almost a foot high ; on these
little elevations the prairie-dogs sit upon their hind legs, chatter-

A PRAIRIE-DOG VILLAGE.

226 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

ing to each other and observing whatever passes on the plains.
They will permit a person to approach quite near, but when they
have viewed him closely, they dive into their dens with wonder-
ful quickness. They are difficult to kill, and if hit generally
succeed in crawling underground before they can be captured.
Rattlesnakes and small owls are generally found in great num-
bers in the prairie-dog towns, and live in the same holes with
the dogs on friendly terms. A few of the prairie dogs were
killed, and were found to be very palatable eating.

A short distance beyond the dog town we discovered a settle-
ment of five white men, who proved to be the Clifford brothers,
Arthur Ruff, Dick Seymour and John Nelson — the latter already
referred to in these pages. Each of them had a squaw wife and
numerous half-breed children, living in tents of buffalo skins.
They owned a herd of horses and mules and a few cattle, and
had cultivated a small piece of land. Their principal occupation
was hunting, and they had a large number of buffalo hides, which
they had tanned in the Indian manner.

Upon reaching Pleasant Valley, on Medicine creek, our party
divided into two detachments — one hunting along the bank of the
stream for elk or deer, and the other remaining with the main
body of the escort. The elk hunters met with no success what-
ever, but the others ran across plenty of buffaloes, and nearly
everybody killed one or more before the day was over. Law-
rence Jerome made an excellent shot; while riding in an ambu-
lance he killed a buffalo which attempted to cross the line of
march. About four o'clock p. m., we arrived at Mitchell's fork
of the Medicine, having traveled thirty-five miles during that day,
and there we went into camp — calling it Camp Jack Hayes, in
honor of Lieutenant Hayes.

On the next morning, the 25th, we moved out of camp at
eight o'clock. The party was very successful through the day in
securing game, Hecksher, Fitzhugh, Livingston and Lieutenant
Hayes, and in fact all, doing good shooting.

Lawrence Jerome persuaded me to let him ride Buckskin Joe,
the best buffalo horse in the whole outfit, and on his back he did

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 227

wonders among the buffaloes. Leonard Jerome, Bennett and
Rogers also were very successful in buffalo hunting. Our camp
of this night was named' Camp Asch to commemorate our sur-
geon, Dr. Asch. The evening was pleasantly spent around the
camp fires in relating the adventures of the day.

LEONARD JER03IE's PREDICAMENT.

Upon crossing the Republican river on the morning of the
26th, we came upon an immense number of buffaloes scattered
over the country in every direction, as far as the eye could reach,
and all had an opportunity to do as much hunting as they wished.
The wagons and troops moved slowly along in the direction of
the next camp, while the hunters went off separately, or by twos
and threes, in different directions, and all were rewarded with
abundant success. Lawrence Jerome, however, had his career
suddenly checked. He' had dismounted to make a steady and
careful shot, and thoughtlessly let go of the bridle. The buffalo
failing to take a tumble, as he ought to have done, started off at
a lively gait, followed by Buckskin Joe, the horse being de-
termined to do some hunting on his own account ; the last seen
of him, he was a little ahead of the buffalo, and gaining slightly,
leaving his late rider to his own reflections and the prospect of a
tramp ; his desolate condition was soon discovered and another
horse, warranted not to run under any provocation, was sent to
him. It may be stated here that three days afterwards, as I
subsequently learned, Buckskin Joe, all saddled and bridled,
turned up at Fort McPherson.

We pitched our tents for the night in a charming spot on the
bank of Beaver creek. The game was so abundant that we re-
mained there one day. This stopping place was called Camp
Cody, in honor of the reader's humble servant. The next day
was spent in hunting jack-rabbits, coyotes, elks, antelopes and
wild turkeys, and in the afternoon we sat down to the finest din-
ner ever spread on the plains.

CHARGED WITH A HEINOUS OFFENSE.

In the evening a court-martial was held, at which I presided
as chief justice. We tried one of the gentlemen for aiding and

228 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

abetting in the loss of a government horse, and for having
something to do with the mysterious disappearance of a Colt's
pistol. He was charged also with snoring in a manner that was
regarded as fiendish, and with committing a variety of other less
offenses too numerous to mention.

The accused made a feeble defense as to the pistol, and
claimed that instead of losing a government horse, the fact was
that the horse had lost him. His statements were all regarded
as *' too thin," and finally failing to prove good character, he
confessed all, and threw himself upon the mercy of the court.
The culprit was Lawrence Jerome.

As chief justice I delivered the opinion of the court, which
my modesty does not prevent me from saying was done in an
able and dignified manner ; as an act of clemency I suspended
judgment for the time being, remarking that while the camp-
fire held out to burn, the vilest sinner might return; and in hope
of the accused's amendment, I would defer pronouncing sen-
tence. The trial afforded us considerable amusement, and gave
me a splendid opportunity to display the legal knowledge which
I had acquired while acting as justice of the peace at Fort Mc-
Pherson.

On the morning of the 28th the command crossed the South
Beaver, distant nine miles from Camp Cody, and then striking a
fair road we made a rapid march until we reached our camp en
Short Nose or Prairie Dog creek, about 2 p. m., after having
made twenty-four miles. The remainder of the afternoon was
spent in hunting buffaloes and turkeys. Camp Stager was the
name given to this place, in honor of General Stager, of the
Western Union Telegraph Company.

STILL PURSUING THE ENEMT.

The next day we made a march of twenty-four miles, and
then halted at about 1 p. m. on the North Solomon river. This
day we killed three buffaloes, two antelopes, two raccoons, and
three teal ducks. Near our camp, which we named Camp Leo-
nard Jerome, was a beaver dam some six feet high and twenty

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 229

yards wide ; it was near the junction of two streams, and formed
a pond of at least four acres.

On the 30th we traveled twenty-five miles, and during the
march nine turkeys, two rabbits, and three or four buffaloes
were killed. We went into camp on the bank of the South
fork of the Solomon river, and called the place Camp Sam
Johnson. We were now but forty-five miles from Fort Hays,
the point at which General Sheridan and his guests expected to
strike the Kansas Pacific Eailway and thence return home.
That evening I volunteered to ride to Fort Hays and meet the
party next day bringing with me all the letters that might
be at the post. Taking the best horse in the command I started
out, expecting to make the trip in about four hours.

The next morning the command got an early start and trav-
eled thirty miles to Saline river, where they made their last
camp on the plains. As some of the party were attacking a herd
of buffaloes, I rode in from Fort Hays and got into the middle
of the herd, and killed a buffalo or two before the hunters ob-
served me. I brought a large number of letters, which proved
welcome reading matter.

CAMP-FIRE CHATS.

In the evening we gathered around the camp-fire for the last
time. The duty of naming the camp, which was called Camp
Davies, having been duly performed, we all united in making
that night the pleasantest of all that we had spent together. We
had eloquent speeches, songs, and interesting anecdotes. I was
called upon, and entertained the gentlemen with some lively In-
dian stories.

The excursionists reached Fort Hays, distant fifteen miles, on
the morning of October 2d, where we pitched our tents for the
last time, and named the camp in honor of Mr. Hecksher. That
same afternoon General Sheridan and his guests took the train
for the East, after bidding Major Brown, Lieutenant Hayes and
myself a hearty good-bye, and expressing themselves as greatly
pleased with their hunt, and the manner in which they had been
escorted and guided.

230 STOET OF THE WILD WEST.

It will be proper and fair to state here that General Daviea
afterwards wrote an interesting account of this hunt and pub-
lished it in a neat volume of sixty-eight pages, under the title of
** Ten Days on the Plains." I would have inserted the volume
bodily in this book, were it not for the fact that the General has
spoken in a rather too complimentary manner of me. Plowever,
I have taken the liberty in cnis chapter to condense from the

AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE.

little volume, and in some places I have used the identical Ian
guage of General Davies without quoting the same ; in fact, to
do the General justice, I ought to close this chapter with several
lines of quotation marks to be pretty generally distributed by
the reader throughout my account of our ten days' hunt.

Soon after the departure of General Shsiidan'js party, we re-
turned to Fort McPherson and fband General Carr abomt V

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 231

start out on a twenty days' scout, not so much for the purpose
of finding Indians, but more for the object of taking some friends
on a hunt. His guests were a couple of Englishmen, — whose
names I cannot now remember — and Mr. McCarthy, of Syra-
cuse, New York, who was a relative of General Emory. The
command consisted of three companies of the Fifth Cavalry, one
company of Pawnee Indians, and twenty-five wagons. Of course
I was called on to accompany the expedition.

A LITTLE JOKE ON MCCARTHY.

One day, after we had been out from the post for some little
time, I was hunting on Deer creek, in company with Mr. Mc-
Carthy, about eight miles from the command. I had been wish-
ing for several days to play a joke on him, and had arranged a
plan with Captain Lute North to carry it into execution. I had
informed North at about what time we would be on Deer creek,
and it was agreed that he should appear in the vicinity with
some of his Pawnees, who were to throw their blankets around
them, and come dashing down upon us, firing and whooping in
true Indian style, while he was to either conceal or disguise him-
self. This programme was faithfully and completely carried out.
T had been talking about Indians to McCarthy, and he had be-
come considerably excited, when just as we turned a bend of the
creek, we saw not half a mile from us about twenty Indians, who
instantly started for us on a gallop, firing their guns and yelling
at the top of their voices.

*' McCarthy, shall we dismount and fight, or run?" said I.

He didn't wait to reply, but wheeling his horse, started at full
speed down the creek, losing his hat and dropping his gun ; away
he went, never once looking back to see if he was being pursued.
I tried to stop him by yelling at him and saying that it was all
right, as the Indians were Pawnees. Unfortunately he did not
hear me, but kept straight on, not stopping his horse until he
reached the camp.

I knew that he would tell General Carr that the Indians had
jumped him, and that the General would soon start out with the

232

STORY OF THE WILD WEST,

troops. So as quick as the Pawnees rode up to me I told them to
remain there while I went after my friend. I rode after him as
fast as possible, but he had arrived at the command some time
before me and when I got there the General had, as I had sus-
pected he would do, ordered out two companies of cavalry to go
in pursuit of the Indians. I told the General that the Indians
were only some Pawnees, who had been out hunting and that they
had merely played a joke upon us. I forgot to inform him that I

NO TI5IE FOR LOOKING BACK.

had put up the trick, but as he was always fond of a good joke
himself, he did not get very angry. I had picked up McCarthy's
hat and gun which I returned to him, and it was some time after-
wards before he discovered who was at the bottom of the affair.

REMAINS OF THE MURDERED BUCK PARTY.

When we returned to Fort McPherson we found there Mr.
Royal Buck, whose father had been killed with his entire party
by Pawnee Killer's band of Indians on the Beaver creek. He
had a letter from the commanding officer of the department re-

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP BUFFALO BILL. 233

questing that he be furnished with an escort to go in seareri of
the remains of his father and the party. Two companies of
cavalry were sent with him and I accompanied them as a guide.
As the old squaw, which we had captured, and of which mention
is made in a previous chapter, could not exactly tell us the place
on Beaver creek where the party had been killed, we searched
the country over for two days and discovered no signs of the
murdered men. At last, however, our efforts were rewarded
with success. We found pieces of their wagons and among other
things an old letter or two which Mr. Buck recognized as his
father's handwriting. We then discovered some of the remains,
which we buried ; but nothing further. It was now getting late
in the fall and we accordingly returned to Fort McPherson.

A short time after this the Fifth Cavalry was ordered to
Arizona, a not very desirable country to soldier in. I had become
greatly attached to the officers of the regiment, having been
continually with them for over three years, and had about made
up my mind to accompany them, when a letter was received from
General Sheridan instructing the commanding officer ** not tG
take Cody'' with him, and saying that I was to remain in my
old position. In a few days the command left for its destina-
tion, taking the cars at McPherson Station, where I bade my oM
friends adieu. During the next few weeks I had but little to do,
as the post was garrisoned by infantry, awaiting the arrival of
the Third Cavalry.

HUNTING WITH A GRAND DUKE.

About the first of January, 1872, General Forsyth and Dr. Asch,
of Sheridan's staff came out to Fort McPherson to make prepara-
tions for a big buffalo hunt for the Grand Duke Alexis, of Russia;
and as this was to be no ordinary affair, these officers had been sent
by General Sheridan to have all the necessary arrangements per-
fected by the time the Grand Duke should arrive. They learned
from me that there were plenty of buffaloes in the vicinity,
and especially on the Red Willow, sixty miles distant. They saiu
they would like to go over on the* Red Willow and pick out a

234 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

„::Jitable place for the camp; they also inquired the location of
the camp of Spotted Tail, chief of the Sioux Indians, Spotted
Tail had permission from the Government to hunt the buffalo
with his people during the winter, in the Republican river coun-
try. It was my opinion that they were located somewhere on the
Frenchman's fork, about one hundred and fifty miles from Fort
McPherson.

General Sheridan's commissioner informed me that he wished
me to visit Spotted Tail's camp, and induce about one hundred
of the leading warriors and chiefs to come to the point where it
should be decided to locate the Alexis hunting camp, and to be
there by the time the Grand Duke should arrive, so that he could
see a body of American Indians and observe the manner in which
they killed buffaloes. The Indians would also be called upon to
give a grand war dance in honor of the distinguished visitor.

Next morning General Forsyth and Dr. Asch, accompanied by
Captain Hays, who had been left at Fort McPherson in charge of
the Fifth Cavalry horses, taking an ambulance and a light wagon,
to carry their tents and provisions sufficient to last them two or
three days, started, under my guidance, with a small escort, for
Red Willow creek, arriving there at night. The next day we
selected a pleasant camping place on a little knoll in the vallej>
of the Red Willow. General Forsyth and his party returned to
the post the next day while I left for Spotted Tail's camp.

The weather was very cold and I found my journey by no
means a pleasant one as I was obliged to camp out with only mj
saddle-blankets ; and besides, there was more or less danger fron?
the Indians themselves ; for, although Spotted Tail himself wa^
friendly, I was afraid I might have difficulty in getting into hi?
eamp. I was liable at any moment to run into a party of hi?
young men who might be out hunting, and as I had many enemies
among the Sioux, I would be running considerable risk in meeting
them.

A VISIT TO SPOTTED TAIL.

At the end of the first day I camped on Stinking Water, a
tributary of the Frenchman's fork, where I built a little fire in

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

235

the timber ; but it was so very cold I was not able to sleep much.
Getting an early start in the morning I followed up the French-
man's fork and late in the afternoon I could see, from the fresh
horse tracks and from the dead buffaloes lying here and there,
recently killed, that I was nearing Spotted Tail's camp. I rode
on for a few miles further, and then hiding my horse in a low
ravine, I crawled up a high hill, where I obtained a good view of
the country. I could see for four or five miles up the creek, and
got sight of a village and of two or three hundred ponies in its

CHIEF SPOTTED TAIL.

vicinity. I waited until night came and then I succeeded in
riding into the Indian camp unobserved.

I had seen Spotted Tail's camp when he came from the North
and I knew the kind of lodge he was living in. As I entered the
village I wrapped a blanket around my head so that the Indians
could not tell whether I was a white or a red man. In this way 1
rode around until I found Spotted Tail's lodge. Dismounting
from my horse I opened his tent door and looking in, saw the
old chief lying on some robes. I spoke to him and he recognized
me at once and invited me to enter. Inside the lodge I found a

236 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

white man, an old frontiersman, Todd Kandall, who was Spotted
Tail's agent and who had lived a great many years with the In-
dians. He understood their language perfectly and did all the
interpreting for Spotted Tail. Through him I readily communi-
cated with the chief and informed him of my errand. I told him
that the warriors and chiefs would greatly please General Sheri-
dan if they would meet him about ten sleeps at the old Govern-
ment crossing of the Red Willow. I further informed him that
there was a great chief from across the water who was coming
there to visit him.

Spotted Tail replied that he would be very glad to go ; that
the next morning he would call his people together and select
those who would accompany him. I told Spotted Tail how I had
entered his camp. He replied that I had acted wisely; that al-
though his people were friendly, yet some of his young men had
a grudge against me, and I might have had difficulty with them
had I met them away from the village. He directed his squaw
to get me something to eat, and ordered that my horse be
taken care of and upon his invitation I spent the remainder of
the night in his lodge.

THEY WANTED TO LITT MY HAIR.

Next morning the chiefs and warriors assembled according to
orders, and to them was stated the object of my visit. They
were asked: ** Do you know who this man is?"

** Yes, we know him well," replied one, " that is Pa-he-has-
ka," (that being my name among the Sioux, which translated
means ** Long-Hair") *' that is our old enemy;" a great many
of the Indians, who were with Spotted Tail at this time, had
been driven out of the Republican country.

*' That is he," said Spotted Tail. ** I want all my people to
be kind to him and treat him as my friend."

I noticed that several of them were looking daggers at me.
They appeared as if they wished to raise my hair then and there.
Spotted Tail motioned and I followed him into his lodge, and
thereupon the Indians dispersed- Having the assurance of

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

237

Spotted Tail that none of the young men would follow me I
started back for the Ked Willow, arriving the second night.

There I found Captain Egan with a company of the second
Cavalry and a wagon train loaded with tents, grain, provisions,
etc. The men were leveling off the ground and were making
preparations to put up large wall tents for the Grand Duke
Alexis and his suite, and for General Sheridan, his staff and other
officers, and invited
.guests of the party. Pro-
ceeding to Fort McPher-
son I reported what had
been done. Thereupon
Quartermaster Hays
•selected from the five
or six hundred horses in
h i 3 charge seventy-five
of the very best, which
were sent to the Red
Willow, to be used by
Alexis and his party at
the coming hunt. In a
day or two a large sup-
ply of provisions,
liquors , etc . , arrived from
Chicago, together with ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^' ^^™^

bedding and furniture for the tents ; all of which were sent ovei
to Camp Alexis.

ARRIVAL OF THE GRAND DUKE.

At last, on the morning of the 12th of January, 1872, the
Grand Duke and party arrived at North Platte by special train,
in charge of a Mr . Francis Thompson. Captain Hays and myself,
with five or six ambulances, fifteen or twenty extra saddle horses
and a company of cavalry under Captain Egan, were at the depot
in time to receive them. Presently General Sheridan and a large,
fine looking young man, whom we at once conciuaeci ro De the

238 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

Grand Duke, came out of the cars and approached us. General
Sheridan at once introduced nie to the Grand Duke as Buffalo
Bill, for he it was, and said that I was to take charge of him and
show him how to kill buffalo.

In less than half an hour the whole party were dashing away
towards the south, across the South Platte and towards the Med-
icine, upon reaching which point we halted for a change of
horses and a lunch. Kesuming our ride we reached Camp Alexis
in the afternoon. General Sheridan was well pleased with the
arrangements that had been made and was delighted to find that
Spotted Tail and his Indians had arrived on time. They were ob-
jects of great curiosity to the Grand Duke, who spent consider-
able time in looking at them, and watching their exhibitions of
horsemanship, sham fights, etc. That evening the Indians gave
the grand war dance, which I had arranged for.

GIVING DUKE ALEXIS THE CUE.

General Custer, who was one of the hunting party, carried on
a mild flirtation with one of Spotted Tail's daughters, who had
accompanied her father thither, and it was noticed also that the
Duke Alexis paid considerable attention to another handsome
red-skin maiden. The night passed pleasantly, and all retired
with great expectations of having a most enjoyable and success-
ful buffalo hunt. The Duke Alexis asked me a great many ques-
tions as to how we shot buffaloes, and what kind of a gun or
pistol we used, and if he was going to have a good horse. I teld
him that he was going to have my celebrated buffalo horse Buck-
skin Joe, and when we went into a buffalo herd all he would
have to do was to sit on the horse's back and fire away.

At nine o'clock next morning we were all in our saddles and
in a few minutes were galloping over the prairies in search of a
buffalo herd. We had not gone far before we observed a herd
some distance ahead of us crossing our way ; after that we pro-
ceeded cautiously, so as to keep out of sight until we were ready
to make a charge.

In a moment the Duke became very much excited and anxious

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 239

to charge directly toward the buffaloes, but I restrained him
for a time, until getting around to windward and keeping behind
the sand hills the herd was gradually approached.

** Now," said I, ** is your time; you must ride as fast as your
horse will go, and don't shoot until you get a good opportunity."

Away we went, tearing down the hill and throwing up a sand-
storm in the rear, leaving the Duke's retinue far behind. When
within a hundred yards of the fleeing buffaloes the Duke fired,
but unfortunately missed, being unused to shooting from a run-
ning horse.

I now rode up close beside him and advised him not to fire
until he could
ride directly
upon the flank
of a buffalo,
as the sport
was most in
the chase. ^!
We dashed off
together and
ran our horses
on either flank
of a large bull,

against the the grand duke killing his first buffalo.
side of which the Duke thrust his gun and fired a fatal shot. He
was very much elated at his success, taking off his cap and waving
it vehemently, at the same time shouting to those who were fully
a mile in the rear. When his retinue came up there were con-
gratulations and every one drank to his good health with over-
flowing glasses of champagne. The hide of the dead buffalo was
carefully removed and dressed, and the royal traveler in his
journey ings over the world has no doubt often rested himself
upon this trophy of his skill (?) on the plains of America.

An encampment was now made, as the party was quite fatigued,
and the evening passed with song and story. On the following
day, by request of Spotted Tail, the Grand Duke hunted for a

240

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

while beside ** Two Lance," a celebrated chief, who claimed he
could send an arrow entirely through the body of the largest
buffalo. This feat seemed so incredulous that there was a gen-
eral denial of his ability to perform it; nevertheless, the Grand
Duke and also several others who accompanied the chief, wit-
nessed, with profound astonishment, an accomplishment of the
feat, and the arrow that passed through the buffalo was given to
the Duke as a memento of Two Lance's skill and power. On

ON THE HAPPY HUNTING GllOUNDS OF MISSOURI.

the same day of this performance the Grand Duke killed a
buffalo at a distance of one hundred paces with a heavy navy
revolver. The shot was a marvelous — scratch.

When the Grand Duke was satisfied with the sport, orders
were given for the return to the railroad. The conveyance pro-
vided for the Grand Duke and General Sheridan was a heavy
double-seated open carriage, or rather an Irish dog-cart, and it
was drawn by six spirited cavalry horses which were not much
used to the harness. The driver was Bill Keed, an old overland

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 241

stage driver and wagon-master ; on our way in, the Grand Duke
frequently expressed his admiration of the skillful manner in
which Reed handled the reins. General Sheridan informed the
Duke that I also had been a stage driver in the Rocky Mountains,
and thereupon His Royal Highness expressed a desire to see me
drive. I was in advance at the time, and General Sheridan sang
out to me :

** Cody, get in here and show the Duke how you can drive.
Mr. Reed will exchange places with you and ride your horse."

<*A11 right, General," said I, and in a few moments I had the
reins and we were rattling away over the prairie. When we
were approaching Medicine creek, General Sheridan said:
** Shake 'em up a little Bill, and give us some old-time stage-
driving."

GIVING THE BUKE A SHAKING UP.

I gave the horses a crack or two of the whip, and they started
off at a very rapid gait. They had a light load to pull, and kept
increasing their speed at every jump, and I found it difficult to
hold them. They fairly flew over the ground, and at last we
reached a steep hill, or divide, which led down into the valley of
the Medicine. There was jio brake on the wagon, and the horses
were not much on the hold back. I saw that it would be impos-
sible to stop them. All I could do was to keep them straight in
the track and let them go it down the hill, for three miles, which
distance, I believe, was made in about six minutes. Every once
in a while the hind wheels would strike a rut and take a bound,
and not touch the ground again for fifteen or twenty feet. The
Duke and the General were kept rather busy in holding their
positions on the seats, and when they saw that I was keeping the
horses straight in the road, they seemed to enjoy the dash which
we were making. I was unable to stop the team until they ran
into the camp where we were to obtain a fresh relay, and there
I succeeded in checking them. The Grand Duke said he didn't
want any more of that kind of driving, as he preferred to go a
little slower.

242

STORY OF THE WILD WESY.

On arriving at the railroad, the Duke invited me into his car,
and made me some valuable presents, at the same time giving
me a cordial invitation to visit him, if ever I should come to his
country. At the same time General Sheridan took occasion to
remind me of an invitation to visit New York which I had re-
ceived from some of the gentlemen who accompanied the General
on the hunt from Fort McPherson to Hays City, in Septembei

SHAKING UP THE GRAND DUKE.

of the previous year. Said he: *' You will never have a better
opportunity to accept that invitation than now. I have had a
talk with General Ord concerning you, and he will give you leave
of absence whenever you are ready to start. Write a letter to
General Stager, of Chicago, that you are now prepared to accept
the invitation, and he will send you a pass." Thanking the Gen
era! for his kindness, I then bade him and the Grand Duke good-
bye, and soon their train was out of sight.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

243

CHAPTEE XVm.

SCOUTING IN A SWALLOW-TAIL OUTFIT.

ENEEAL OED, commanding the De-
partment of the Platte at the time, and
who had been out on the Alexis hunt,
had some business to attend to at Fort
McPherson, and I accepted his invita-
tion to ride over to the post with him
in an ambulance. On the way thither
he asked me how I would like to have
an officer's commission in the regular
army. He said that General Sheridan
and himself had had some conversation
about the matter, and if I wanted a
commission, one could easily be pro-
cured for me. I thanked General Ord
for his kindness, and said that although an officer's commission
in the regular army was a tempting prize, yet I preferred to re-
main in the position I was then holding. He concluded by stat-
ing that if at any time 1 should wish a commission, all that 1
would have to do to secure it would be to inform him of my
desire.

Having determined to visit Kew York, I acted upon General
Sheridan's suggestion and wrote to General Stager, from whom
in a few days I received my railroad passes. Obtaining thirty
days' leave of absence from the department, I struck out for the
East. On arriving in Chicago, in February, 1872, I was met at
the depot by Colonel M. V. Sheridan, who said that his brother,
the General, had not yet returned, but had sent word that I was
to be his and the Colonel's guest, at their house, while I re-
mained in Chicago.

I spent two or three days very pleasantly in the great city of
the West, meeting several gentlemen who had been out on the

244

STOKY OF THE WILD WEST.

Sheridan hunt in September: General Stager, Colonel Wilson,
editor of the Journal; Mr. Sam Johnson, General Rucker and
others, by all of whom I was most cordially received and well
entertained. I was introduced to quite a number of the best peo-
ple of the city, and was invited to several '* swell*' dinners. I
also accompanied General Sheridan — who meantime had re-
turned to the city — to a ball at Riverside, an aristocratic sub-
urb. On this
occasion I be-
came so embar-
rassed that it
was more diffi-
cult for me to
face the throng
of beautiful
ladies, than it
w ould hav e
been to con-
front a hundred
hostile Indians.
This was my
first trip to the
East, and I had
not yet become
accustomed to
being stared at.
And besides

SCOUTING AMONG THE CIVILIANS. this, thc huU-

dreds of questions which I was called upon cO answer further
embarrassed and perplexed me.

According to the route laid out for me by General Stager, X
was to stop at Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Rochester on my way
to New York, and he provided me with all the necessary railroad
passes. Just as I was about to leave Chicago I met Professor
Henry A. Ward, of Rochester, for whom during the previous
year ot two I had collected a large number of specimens of wild

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 245

animals. He was on his way to Rochester, and kindly volun-
teered to act as my guide until we reached that point. We spent
one day in viewing the wonders of Niagara, and I stopped one
day at Rochester and was shown the beauties of that handsome
city by Professor Ward, and I had the honor of receiving an in
vitation to dine with the Mayor.

A GUEST OF THE UNION CLUB.

On arriving at New York I was met at the depot by Mr. J. G.
Hecksher, who had been appointed as " a committee of one"
to escort me to the Union Club, where James Gordon Bennett,
Leonard W. Jerome and others were to give me an informal re-
ception, and where I was to make iziy headquarters during my
visit to the great metropolis. I had an elegant dinner at the
club rooms, with the gentlemen who had been out on the Sep-
tember hunt, and other members of the club.

After dinner, in company with Mr. Hecksher — who acted as my
guide — I started out on the trail of my friend, Ned Buntline,
whom we found at the Brevoort Place Hotel. He was delighted
to see me, and insisted on my becoming his guest. He would
listen to no excuses, and on introducing me to Messrs. Overton
& Blair, proprietors of the Brevoort, they also gave me a press-
ing invitation to make my home at their hou ie. I finally com-
promised the matter by agreeing to divide my time between the
Union Club, the Brevoort House, and Ned Buntline's headquart-
ers.

The next few days I spent in viewing the sights of New York,
everything being new and startling, convincing me that as yet I
had seen but a small portion of the world. I received numerous
dinner invitations, as well as invitations to visit different places
of amusement and interest ; but as they came in so thick and
fast, I soon became badly demoralized and confused. I found
I had accepted invitations to dine at half a dozen or more houses
on the same day and at the same hour. James Gordon Bennett
had prepared a dinner for me, at which quite a large number of
his friends were to be present, but owing to my confusion, aris-

246 STORY OF THE WILD WEST,

mg from the many other invitations I had received, I forgot all
about it and dined elsewhere. This was " a bad break," but I
did not learn of my mistake until next day, when at the Unioii
Club House several gentlemen, among them Lawrence Jerome,
inquired ** where in the world I had been," and why I had not
put in an appearance at Bennett's dinner. They said that Ben-
nett had taken great pains to give me a splendid reception, that
the party had waited till nine o'clock for me and that my non-
arrival caused considerable disappointment. I apologized as well
as I could by saying that I had been out on a scout and had got
lost and had forgotten all about the dinner, and expressed my
regret for the disappointment I had created by my forgetfulness.
August Belmont, the banker, being near, said: ** Never mind,
gentlemen, I'll give Cody a dinner at my house."

<' Thank you, sir," said I; ** I see you are determined that I
shall not run short of rations while I am in the city. I'll be-
there, sure." Both Mr. Jerome and Mr. Hccksher told me that
I must not disappoint Mr. Behnont, for his dinners were splen-
did affairs. I made a note of the date, and at the appointed
time I was promptly at Mr. Belmont's mansion, where I spent
a very enjoyable evening.

Mr. Bennett, who was among the guests, having forgiven my
carelessness, invited me to accompany him to the Liederkranz
masked ball, which was to take place in a few evenings and would
be a grand spectacle. Together we attended the ball and durmg
the evening I was well entertained. The dancers kept on their
masks until midnight, and the merry and motley throng pre-
sented a brilliant scene, moving gracefully beneath the bright
gas-light to inspiriting music. To me it was a novel and
entertaining sight, and in many respects "eminded me greatly of
an Indian war-dance.

Acting upon the suggestion of Mr. Bennett, I had dressed my-
self m my buckskin suit, and I naturally attracted considerable
attention ; especially when I took part in the dancing and exhib-
ited some of my backwoods steps, which, although not as grace-
ful as some, were a great deal more emphatic. But when I

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 247

undertook to do artistic dancing, I found I was decidedly out of
place in that crowd, and I accordingly withdrew from the floor.
I occasionally passed an evening at Ni bio's Garden, viewing
the many beauties of *' The Black Crook," which was then hav-
ing its long run, under the management of Jarrett & Palmer,
whose acquaintance I had made, and who extended to me the
freedom of the theater.

MY ALTER EGO ON THE STAGE.

Ned Buntline and Fred Maeder had dramatized one of the
stories which the former had written about me for the New York
Weekly, The drama was called '* Buffalo Bill, the King of
Border Men." While I was in New York it was produced at
the Bowery Theater; J. B. Studley, an excellent actor, appearing
in the character of *' Buffalo Bill," and Mrs. W. G. Jones, a fine
actress, taking the part of my sister, a leading role, I was curi-
ous to see how I would look when represented by some one else,
and of course I was present on the opening night, a private box
having been reserved for me. The theater was packed, every
seat being occupied as well as all standing-room. The drama
was played smoothly and created a great deal of enthusiasm.

The audience, upon learning that the real ** Buffalo Bill" was
present, gave several cheers between the acts, and I was called
on to come out on the stage and make a speech. Mr. Freleigh,
the manager, insisted that I should comply with the request,
and that I should be introduced to Mr. Studley. I finally con-
sented, and the next moment I found myself standing behind
the footlights and in front of an audience for the first time in
my life. I looked up, then down, then on each side, and every-
where I saw a sea of human faces, and thousands of eyes all
staring at me. I confess that I felt very much embarrassed —
never more so in my life — and 1 knew not what to say. I
made a desperate effort, and a few words escaped me, but what
they were I could not for the life of me tell, nor could any one
else in the house. My utterances were inaudible even to the
leader of the orchestra, Mr. Dean, who was sitting only a few

248 STORY OP THE WILD WEST.

feet in front of me. Bowing to the audience , I beat a hasty
retreat into one of the canons of the stage. I never felt more
relieved in my life than when I got out of the view of that im-
mense crowd.

MY FIRST APPEARANCE ON THE STAGE.

That evening Mr. Freleigh offered to give me five hundred
dollars a week to play the part of ** Buffalo Bill'* myself. I
thought that he was certainly joking, especially as he had wit-
nessed my awkward performance; but when he assured me that
he was in earnest, I told him that it would be useless for me to
attempt anything of the kind, for I never could talk to a crowd
of people like that, even if it was to save my neck, and that he
might as well try to make an actor out of a government mule.
I thanked him for the generous offer, which I had to decline
owing to a lack of confidence in myself; or as some people
might express it, I didn't have the requisite cheek to undertake
a thing of that sort. The play of *' Buffalo Bill " had a very
successful run of six or eight weeks, and was afterwards
produced in all the principal cities of the country, everywhere
being received with genuine enthusiasm.

I had been in New York about twenty days when General
Sheridan arrived in the city. I met him soon after he got into
town. In answer to a question how I was enjoying myself, I re-
plied that I had struck the best camp I had ever seen, and if he
didn't have any objections I would like to have my leave of ab-
sence extended about ten days. This he willingly did, and then
informed me that my services would soon be required at Fort
McPherson, as there was to be an expedition sent out from that
point.

At Westchester, Pennsylvania, I had some relatives living
whom I had never seen, and now being so near, I determined to
make them a visit. Upon mentioning the matter to Buntline, he
suggested that we should together take a trip to Philadelphia,
and thence run out to Westchester. Accordingly the next day
found us in the '* City of Brotherly Love," and in a few hours

AUTOBIOQRAPHr OF BUFFALO BILL. 249

we arrived at the home of my uncle, General Henry K. Guss,
the proprietor of the Green Tree Hotel, who gave us a cordial

reception.

Inviting us into the parlor, my uncle brought in the members
of his family, among them an elderly lady, who was my grand-
mother, as he informed me. He told me that my Aunt Eliza,
his first wife, was dead, and that he had married a second time;
Lizzie Guss, my cousin, I thought was the most beautiful girl I
had ever seen. They were all very anxious to have us remain
several days, but as I had some business to attend to in New
York, I was obliged to re-turn that day. Assuring them, how-
ever, that I would visit them again soon, I bade them adieu, and
with Buntline took the train for New York.

The time soon arrived for my departure for the West; so
packing up my traps I started for home, and on the way thither
I spent a day with my Westchester relatives, who did everything
in their power to entertain me during my brief stay with them.

250

STOKT OiP THJB WILD WEST,

CHAPTER XIX.

AGAIN ON THE INDIAN TKAIL.

PON reaching Fort McPherson, I found that the
Third Cavalry, commanded by General Rey-
nolds, had arrived from Arizona, in which
Territory they had been on duty for some time,
and where they had acquired quite a reputation
on account of their Indian fighting qualities.
Shortly after my return, a small party of In-
dians made a dash on McPherson station,
about ^ve miles from the fort, killing two or
three men and running off quite a large number
of horses. Captain Meinhold and Lieutenant Lawson with their
company were ordered out to pursue and punish the Indians if
possible. I was the guide of the expedition and had an assistant,
T. B. Omohundro, better known as ** Texas Jack,'' and who was
a scout at the post.

Finding the trail, I followed it for two days, although it was
difficult trailing because the red-skins had taken every possible
precaution to conceal their tracks. On the second day Captain
Meinhold went into camp on the South fork of the Loupe, at a
point where the trail was badly scattered. Six men were detailed
to accompany me on a scout in search of the camp of the fugitives.
We had gone but a short distance when we discovered Indians
camped, not more than a mile away, with horses grazing near by.
They were only a small party, and I determined to charge upon
them with my six men, rather than return to the command, be-
cause I feared they would see us as we went back and then they
would get away from us entirely. I asked the men if they were
willing to attempt it, and they replied that they would follow me
wherever I would lead them. That was the kind of spirit that
pleased me, and we immediately moved forward on tlie enemy^
getting as close to them as possible without being seen.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

251

I finally gave the signal to charge, and we dashed into the little
camp with a yell. Five Indians sprang out of a willow tepee,

INDIAN HIDING HIS TRAIL.

and greeted us with a volley, and we returned the fire. I was
riding Buckskin Joe, who with a few jumps brought me up to the
tepee, followed by my men. We nearly ran over the Indians

252 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

who were endeavoring to reach their horses on the opposite side
of the creek. Just as one was jumping the narrow stream a bullet
from my old *' Lucretia " overtook him. He never reached the
other bank, but dropped dead in the water. Those of the Indians
who were guarding the horses, seeing what was going on at the
camp, came rushing to the rescue of their friends. I now counted
thirteen braves, but as we had already disposed of two, we had
only eleven to take care of. The odds were nearly two to one
against us.

A SHARP FIGHT — WOUNDED.

While the Indian re-enforcements were approaching the camp I
jumped the creek with Buckskin Joe to meet them, expecting
our party would follow me ; but as they could not induce their
horses to make the leap, I was the only one who got over. I
ordered the sergeant to dismount his men, leaving one to hold
the horses, and come over with the rest and help me drive tJie In^
dians off. Before they could do this, two mounced warriors
closed in en me and were shooting at short range. I returned
their fire and had the satisfaction of seeing one of them fall from
his horse. At this moment I felt blood trickling down my fore-
head, and hastily running my hand through my hair I discovered
that I had received a scalp wound. The Indian, who had shot me,
was not more than ten yards away, and when he saw his partner
tumble from his saddle he turned to run.

By this time the soldiers had crossed the creek to assist me,
and were blazing away at the other Indians. Urging Buckskin
Joe forward, I was soon alongside of the chap who had wounded
me, when raising myself in the stirrups I shot him through the
head.

The reports of our guns had been heard by Captain Meinhold,
who at once started with his company up the creek to our aid,
and when the remaining Indians, whom we were still fighting,
saw these re-enforcements coming, they whirled their horses and
fled; as their SLceds were quite fresh they made their escape.
However, we killed six out of the thirteen Indiana, and captured

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

253

Our loss was one man killed, and
wounded. One of our horses

most of their stolen stock,
another — myself — slightly
was killed, and
Buckskin Joe was
wounded, but I
didn't discover the
fact until some ;
time afterwards, ^
a s h e had been |
shot in the breast *^'
and showed no kJ?;-'
signs of having
received a scratch ^ |
of any k i n d . ^ r^J
Securing the ^
scalps of the dead I
Indians and other r
trophies w e re- j
turned to the foit. ^
I made several |
other scouts dur- ^
ing the summer ^
with different ^
officers of the ^
Third Cavalry, P
one being with ^
Maj. Alick Moore, F
a good officer, with g '
whom I was out
for thirty days.
Another long one
was with Major
Curtis, with whom
I followed some
Indians from the South Platte river to Fort Randall on the
Missouri river, in Dakota, on which trip the command ran out of

254 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

rations and for fifteen days subsisted entirely upon the game we
killed.

HUNTING WITH AN EARL.

In the fall of 1872 the Earl of Dunraven and Dr. Kingsley,
with several friends, came to Fort McPherson with a letter from
General Sheridan, asking me to accompany them on an elk hunt.
I did so, and afterwards spent several weeks in hunting with the
Earl of Dunraven, who was a thorough sportsman and an excel-
lent hunter. It was while I was out with the Earl that a
Chicago party — friends of General Sheridan — arrived at Fort
McPherson for the purpose of going out on a hunt also. They,
too, had a letter from the General requesting me to go with them.
The Earl had not yet finished his hunt, but as I had been out
with him for several weeks, and he had by this time learned
where to find plenty of elks and other game, I concluded to leave
him and accompany the Chicago party. I informed him of my
intention and gave him my reasons for going, at the same time
telling him I would send him one of my scouts, Texas Jack, who
was a good hunter, and would be glad to accompany him. The
Earl seemed to be somewhat offended at this, and I don't think
he has ever forgiven me for ** going back on him." Let that
be as it may, he found Texas Jack a splendid hunter and guide,
and Jack was his guide on several hunts afterwards.

Among the gentlemen who composed the Chicago party were
E. P. Green, — son-in-law of Remington, the rifle manufactur-
er,— Alexander Sample, Mr. Milligan, of the firm of Heath &
Milligan, of Chicago, and several others, whose names I do not
now remember. Mr. Milligan was a man full of life, and was
continually ** boiling over with fun." He was a regular veloci-
pede, so to speak, and was here, there, and everywhere. He
was exceedingly desirous of having an Indian fight on the trip,
not that he was naturally a blood-thirsty man, but just for variety
he wanted a little *' Indian pie." He was in every respect the
life of the party, during the entire time that we were out. One
(lay while he was hunting with Sample and myself we came in
sight of a band of thirty mnui>ted Indians,

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 255

** Milligan, here's what you've been wanting for some time,"
said I, ** for yonder is a war party of Indians and no mistake;
and they'll come for us, you bet."

*' 1 don't believe this is one of my fighting days," replied Mil-
ligan, *' and it occurs to me that I have urgent business at the
camp."

A PARTY WHICH MILLIGAN REFUSED TO ATTEND.

Our camp was five or six miles distant on the Dismal river,
and our escort consisted of a company of cavalry commanded by
Captain Russell. The soldiers were in camp, and Milligan
thought that Captain Russell ought to be at once notified of the
appearance of these Indians. Knowing that we could reach the
camp in safety, for we were well mounted, I continued to have
considerable amusement at Milligan's expense, who finally said:

** Cody, what's making my hat raise up so. I can hardly keep
it on my head."

Sample, who was as cool as a cucumber, said to Milligan:
*« There must be something wrong with your hair. It must be
trying to get on end."

** It's all very fine for you fellows to stand here and talk,"
replied Milligan, '' but I am not doing justice to my family by
remaming. Sample, I think we are a couple of old fools to have
come out here, and I never would have done so if it had not
been for you."

By this time the Indians had discovered us and were holding a
consultation, and Milligan turned his horse in the direction of the
camp. I never believed that he was half as scared as he seemed
to be, but that he was merely pretending so that we could enjoy
our joke. However, we did not wait any longer, but rode into
camp and notified Captain Russell, who immediately started with
his company to pursue the band. While we were riding along
with the company Milligan said to Sample: *< Now, Alick, let
them come on. We may yet go back to Chicago covered with
glory."

We struck the trail going north . but as we had not come oui

256 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

on a scout for Indians, we concluded not to follow them; al«
though Milligan was now very anxious to proceed and clean them
out. The hunt cam« to an end in a day or two, and we escorted the
visiting sportsmen to North Platte, where they took the train for
Chicago. Before their departure they extended to me a very
cordial invitation to come to their city on a visit, promising that
I should be well taken care of.

ROPING A BUFFALO.

Soon after this I had the pleasure of guiding a party of gen-
tlemen from Omaha on a bufPalo hunt. Among the number

INDIAN

were Judge Dundy, Colonel Watson B. Smith, and U. S. Dis-
trict Attorney Neville. We left Fort McPherson in good trim.
I was greatly amused at the *' style " of Mr. Neville, who wore
a stove-pipe hat and a swallow tail coat, which made up a very
comical rig for a buffalo hunter. As we galloped over the prai-
rie, he jammed his hat down over his ears to keep it from being
shaken off his head, and in order to stick to his horse, he clung
to the pommel of his saddle. He was not much of a rider, and
he went bouncing up and down, with his swallow-tails flopping
in the air. The sight I shall never forget, for it was enough to
make a ** horse laugh," and I actually believe old Buckskin Jot
did laugh.

However, we had a splendid hunt, and on the second day I

KIOWA ANNIE,
NOTED INDIAN BEAUTY.

Photo by Drake.

"""™TliiiiSi« iMr..irlK

l«NKM1T

> WCST

^ A fellow prince among the kings,
a sovereign by the right

vvixu la uiAo gallant cavalier '^^ "^^ Where the altars of the Druids

that rides in from the West? and ancient abbeys lie.

%■

•*^*,-«<.»,^**-

He drove the bronze barbarians
into the setting sun.

By the Tiber, 'neath the shadow
of St. Peter's lofty dome,

^SiA

'^i ■• , x.-^^.taiiskife^

'Mong the willows by the river, '^<^W '^^ng potentates and powers,
on mesa, hill and plain, ^'/^ ' in the cities of the kings,

f ^.*".
M^ j:.^

— c;;^

LUiM.

He led toward the Orient
his motley, nomad throng,

When by this mighty inland sea
the vast White City gleamed.

j^i^m-S^xn^

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 257

lariated, or roped, a big buffalo bull and tied him to a tree, — a
feat which I had often performed, and which the gentlemen re-
quested me to do on this occasion for their beoefit, as they had
heard of my skill with the lariat. I captured several other buf-
faloes in the same way. The gentlemen returned to Omaha well
pleased with their hunt.

In the fall of the year 1872, a convention was held at Grand
Island, when some of my friends made me their candidate to re-
present the Twenty-sixth District in the Legislature of Nebraska;
but as I had always been a Democrat and the State was largely
Republican, I had no idea of being elected. In fact I cared very
little about it, and therefore made no effort whatever to secure
an election. However, I was elected and that is the way in
which I acquired my title of Honorable.

258 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

CHAPTER XX.

AN ACTOR,

M r\ V<URING the summer and fall of 1872, 1 received
(^ numerous letters from Ned Buntline, urging me
to come East and go upon the stage to
represent my own character . * * There' s
money in it," he wrote, ** and you will
prove a big card, as your character is a
novelty on the stage."
At times I almost determined to
make the venture ; but the recollection of that night when I
stood on the stage of the Bowery Theater and was unable to
utter a word above a whisper, would cause me to stop and think
and become irresolute. I feared that I would be a total
failure, and wrote Buntline to that effect. But he insisted
that I would soon get over all that embarrassment, and become
accustomed to the stage, so that I would think no more of ap-
pearing before five thousand people than I would before half a
dozen. He proposed to organize a good company, and wished
me to meet him in Chicago, where the opening performance
would be given.

1 remained undecided as to what I ought to do. The officers
at the fort, as well as my family and friends to whom I had men-
tioned the matter, laughed at the idea of my ever becoming an
actor. That I, an old scout who had never seen more than twenty
or thirty theatrical performances in my life, should think of go-
ing upon the stage, was ridiculous in the extreme — so they all
said.

A few days after my election to the Legislature a happy event
occurred in my family circle, in the birth of a daughter whom
we named Ora ; about the same time I received another letter
from Buntline, in which he requested me to appear on the stage
for a few months as an experiment; and he said that if I made

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

259

a failure or did not like the business, I could easily return to my
old life.

My two sisters who had been living with us had married —
Nellie, to A. C. Jester, a cattle man, and May, to Ed. Bradford,
a railroad engineer — and consequently left us; and my wife
had been wishing for a long time to visit her parents in St.
Louis. Taking these and other things into consideration I finally
resolved to resign my seat in the Legislature and try my luck
behind the foot-lights.
I informed General Rey-
nolds of my determina-
tion, telling him at the
same time that at the end
of the month, November,
I would resign my posi-
tion under him. The
General regretted to hear
this, and advised me not
to take the step, for I
was leaving a comfort-
able little home, where J
was sure of making a
good living for my
family; while, on the
other hand, I was em-
barking upon a sea of
uncertainty. Having texas jack (j. b. omohundro).

once made up my mind, however, nothing could change it.

ARRANGING THE PRELIMINARIES.

While I was selling my horses and other effects, preparatory
to leaving the fort, one of my brother scouts, Texas Jack, said
he would like to accompany me. Now as Jack had also appeared
as the hero in one of Ned Buntline's stories, I thought that he
would make as good a ** star " as myself, and it was accordingly
arranged tha* Jack should go with me. On our way east we

260 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

stopped in Omaha a day or two to visit General Augur and other
officers, and also the gentlemen who were out on the Judge
Dundy Hunt. Judge Dundy and his friends gave a dinner party
in my honor at the leading restaurant and entertained me very
handsomely during my stay in the city.

At Omaha I parted with my family, who went to St. Louis,
while Jack and myself proceeded to Chicago. Ned Buntline and
Mr. Milligan, having been apprised of our coming by a telegram,
met us at the depot. Mr. Milligan accompanied us to the Sher-
man house, where he had made arrangements for us to be his
guests while we remained in the city. I didn't see much of
Buntline that evening, as he hurried off to deliver a temperance
lecture in one of the public halls. The next day w^e met him by
appointment, and the first thing he said, was: —

" Boys, are you ready for business? "

"I can't answer that," replied I, ** for we don't know what
we are going to do."

*'It's all arranged," said he, «* and you'll have no trouble
whatever. Come with me. We'll go and see Nixon, manager
of the Amphitheater. That's the place where we are to play.
We'll open there next Mx)nday night." Jack and myself ac-
cordingly accompanied him to Manager Nixon's office without
saying a word, as we didn't know what to say.

*«Here we are, Mr. Nixon," said Buntline; "here are the
stars for you. Here are the boys ; and they are a fine pair to
draw to. Now, Nixon, I am prepared for business."

Nixon and Buntline had evidently had a talk about the terms
of our engagement. Buntline, it seems, was to furnish the com-
pany, the drama, and the pictorial printing, and was to receive
sixty per cent, of the gross receipts for his share ; while Nixon
was to furnish the theater, the attaches, the orchestra, and the
local printing, and receive forty per cent, of the gross receipts.

NOW, here's a how d'do.

<* I am ready for you, Buntline. Have you got your company
yet? ' asked Nixon.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF UUFFAi.O BILL. 261

•*No, sir; but there are plenty of idle theatrical people in
toivn, and I can raise a company in two houra,'* was his reply.

"You haven't much time to spare, if you open on Monday
night,'* said Nixon. ** If you will allow me to look at youi
drama, to see what kind of people you want, I'll assist you in
organizing your company."

** I have not yet written the drama," said Buntline.

** What the deuce do you mean? This is Wednesday, and you
propose to open on next Monday night. The idea is ridiculous.
Here you are at this late hour without a company and without a
disma. This will never do, Buntline. I shall have to break my
"jontract with you, for you can't possibly write a drama, cast it,
. nd rehearse it properly for Monday night. Furthermore, you
have no pictorial printing as yet. These two gentlemen, whom
you have with you, have never been on the stage, and they cer-
tainly must have time to study their parts. It is preposterous to
think of opening on Monday night, and I'll cancel the engage-
ment."

This little speech was delivered in rather an excited manner by
Mr. Nixon. Buntline said that he would write the drama that
day and also select his company and have them at the theater for
rehearsal next morning. Nixon laughed at him, and said there
was no use of trying to undertake anything of the kind in so
short a time — it was utterly impossible to do it. Buntline,
whose ire was rising, said to Nixon: '* What rent will you ask
for your theater for next week? "

" Six hundred dollars," was the reply.

*« Well, sir, I'll take your theater for next week at that price,
and here is half the amount in advance," said Buntline, as he
threw down three hundred dollars on the stand. Nixon took the
money, gave a receipt for it, and had nothing more to say.

** Now, come with me boys," said Buntline, and away we went
to the hotel. Buntline immediately obtained a supply of pens,
ink and paper, and then engaged all the hotel clerks as penmen.
In less than an hour after he had rented the theater, he was dash-
ing off page aftcT* nage of his proposed drama — the work being

262

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

done in his room at the hotel. He then set his clerks at copying
for him, and at the end of four hours he jumped up from the
table, and enthusiastically shouted ; *' Hurrah for 'The Scouts
of the Plains I ' That's the name of the play. The work is
done. Hurrah I **

The parts were then copied off separately by the clerks, and
handing us our respective portions Buntline said: *' Now, boys,
go to work, and do your level best to have this dead-letter per-
fect for the rehearsal, which takes place to-morrow morning at ten

o' clock , prompt . I want to show
Nixon that we'll be ready on
time."

I looked at my part and then
at Jack ; and Jack looked at his
part and then at mo. Then we
looked at each other, and then
at Buntline. We did not know
what to make of the man,

" How long will it take to
commit your part to memory.
Bill?" asked Jack.

'' About six months, as near
as I can calculate. How long
will it take you ? ' ' answered I .

** It will take me about that

length of time to learn the first

line," said Jack. Nevertheless

we went to our room and com-

I thought it was the hardest work I had ever

STUDYING THE PARTS.

menced studying
done.

*« This is dry business," finally remarked Jack.

*« That's just what it is," I answered ; «< jerk the bell, Jack."
The bell-boy soon appeared. We ordered refreshments; after
partaking thereof we resumed our task. We studied hard for
an hour or two, but finally gave it up as a bad job, although we
had succeeded in committing, a small portion to memory. Bunt-

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 263

line now came into the room and said: **Boy8, hoiv are you
getting along? **

*' I guess we'll have to go back on this studying business as it
isn't our /or^e," said I.

** Don't weaken now, Bill ; you'll come out on the top of the
heap yet. Let me hear you recite your part," said Buntline. I
began ** spouting " what I had learned, but was interrupted by
Buntline: '*Tut! tut! you're not saying it right. You must
stop at the cue."

*' Cue I What the mischief do you mean by the cue? I never
saw any cue except in a billiard room," said I. Buntline there-
upon explained it to me, as well as to Jack, who was ignorant
as myself concerning the '* cue " business.

'* Jack, I think we had better back out and go to hunting
again," said I.

THE TIDE TAKEN AT THE FLOOD.

** See here, boys; it won't do to go back on me at this stage
of the game. Stick to it, and it may be the turning point in
your lives and lead you on to fortune and to fame."

** A fortune is what we are after, and we'll at least give the
wheel a turn or two to see what luck we have," said I. This
satisfied Buntline, but we didn't study any more after he left us.
The next morning we appeared at rehearsal and was introduced
to the company. The first rehearsal was hardly a success ; and
the succeeding ones were not much better. The stage manager
did his best to teach Jack and myself what to do, but when
Monday night come we didn't know much more about it than
when we began.

The clock struck seven, and then we put on our buckskin suits,
which were the costumes we were to appear in. The theater
was being rapidly filled, and it was evident that we were going
to make our debut before a packed house. As the minutes passed
by. Jack and I became more and more nervous. We occasionally
looked through the holes m the curtain, and saw that the people

264

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

When at length the curtain arose, our courage had returned,
80 that we thought we could face the immense crowd ; yet when
the time came for us to go on, we were rather slow in making
our appearance. As we stepped forth we were received with a
storm of applause, which we acknowledged with a bow.

Buntline, who was taking the part of ** Cale Durg," appeared,
and gave me the ** cue " to speak " my little piece,'' but for the
life of me I could not remember a single word. Buntline saw I

BEHIND THE FOOTLIGHTS.

was *' stuck," and a happy thought occurred to him. He said,
as if it were in the play :

A LITTLE FUNNY BUSINESS.

*' Where have you been, Bill? What has kept you so long? "
Just then my eye happened to fall on Mr. Milligan, who was
surrounded by his friends, the newspaper reporters, and several
military officers, all of whom had heard of his hunt and ** Indian
fight" — he being a very popular man, and widely known in
Chicago. So I said; —

** I have been out on a hunt with Millisan."

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL, 265

This proved to be a big hit. The audience cheered and ap-
plauded, which gave me greater confidence in my ability to get
through the performance all right. Buntline, who was a very ver-
satile man, saw that it would be a good plan to follow this up
and said: '* Well, Bill, tell us all about the hunt.*' I thereupon
proceeded to relate in detail the particulars of the affair. 1
succeeded in making it rather funny, and I was frequently
interrupted by rounds of applause. Whenever I began to
** weaken," Buntline would give me a fresh start, by asking
some question. In this way I took up fifteen minutes, without
once speaking a word of my part ; nor did I speak a word of it
during the whole evening. The prompter, who was standing
between the wings, attempted to prompt me, but it did no good;
for while I was on the stage I '* chipped in ' ' anything I thought of.

The *' Scouts of the Plains " was an Indian drama, of course:
and there were between forty and fifty * * supers ' ' dressed as In-
dians. In the fight with them. Jack and I were at home. We
blazed away at each other with blank cartridges ; and when the
scene ended in a hand-to-hand encounter — a general knock-
down and drag-out — the way Jack and I killed Indians was ** a
caution.'* Wo would kill them all off in one act, but they
would come up again ready for business in the next. Finally
the curtain dropped, the play was ended, and I congratulated
Jack and myself on having made such a brilliant and successful
debut. There was no backing out after that.

CRITICISMS OF THE TRESS.

The next morning there appeared in the Chicago papers some
funny criticisms on our first performance. The papers gave us a
better send-off than I expected, for they did not criticise us as
actors. The Chicago Times said that if Buntline had actually
spent four hours in writing that play, it was difficult for anyone
to see what he had been doing all the time. Buntline, as ** Cale
Durg," was killed in the second act, after a long temperance
8pe<^ch; and the Inter-Ocean said that it was to be regretted
that he bad not been killed in the first act. The company, how-

266 STORY OP THE WILD WEST.

ever, was very good, and M'dlle. Morlacchi, as **Pale Dove,"
particularly fine; while Miss Cafarno ** spouted*' a poem of
some seven hundred and three verses, more or less, of which
the reader will be glad to know that I only recall the words '« I
was born in March."

Our engagement proved a decided success financially, if not
artistically. Nixon was greatly surprised at the result, and at
the end of the week he induced Buntline to take him in as a
partner in the company.

The next week we played at DeBar's Opera House, in St.
Louis, doing an immense business. The following week we
were at Cincinnati, where the theater was so crowded every
night that hundreds were unable to obtain admission. We met
with equal success all over the country. Theatrical managers,
upon hearing of this new and novel combination, which was
drawing such tremendous houses, were all anxious to secure us;
and we received offers of engagements at all the leading
theaters. We played one week at the Boston Theater, and the
gross receipts amounted to $16,200. We also appeared at Nib-
lo's Garden, New York, the theater being crowded to its utmost
capacity every night of the engagement. At the Arch Street
Theater, Philadelphia, it was the same way. There was not a
single city where we did not have crowded houses.

We closed our tour on the 16th of June, 1873, at Port Jervis,
New York, and when I counted up my share of the profits I
found that I was only about $6,000 ahead. I was somewhat dis-
appointed, for, judging from our large business, I certainly had
expected a greater sum.

Texas Jack and myself longed for a hunt on the Western
prairies once more ; and on meeting in New York a party of gen-
tlemen who were desirous of going with us, we all started west-
ward, and after a pleasant trip arrived at Fort McPherson.

LIVELY EXPERIENCES OF WILD BILL.

Texas Jack and I spent several weeks hunting in the western
part of Nebraska, and after this pleasant recreation we went to

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

267

New York and organized a theatrical company for the season of
1873-74. Among the people we engaged for our next tour was
Wild Bill, whose name, we knew, would be a drawing card.
Bill did not think well of our enterprise on account of our un-
familiarity with the stage, but a large salary forced him to forego
his diffidence before the public, and he accordingly made his
debut as an actor. He remained with us during a greater part of
the season, much to our advantage, and would have continued
but for a demoralizing habit that compelled us to part with

WILD bill's IMPROHIPTU PERFORMANCE.

him. The habit to which I refer was that of firing blank cart-
ridges at the legs of the supers, often burning them severely and
at times almost bringing our performance to a ridiculous close.
I demonstrated with him time and again, but all to no purpose,
and at last, worn out with expostulations, I reluctantly told him
he must either quit shooting the supers or leave the company.
Without making any reply he retired to the dressing room and
there changing his clothes he elbowed his way out through the
audience, leaving word with the stage-carpenter that I could go

268 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

to thunder with my show. I met him later ia the evening and
tried to persuade him to remain with me, but to no avail, and
finding him determined Jack and I paid him his wages and gave
iiim an extra purse of $1,000, with which he bade us good-
bye.

The next I heard of Wild Bill was as a star at the head of a
wou d-be rival organization that soon went to pieces. Bill
left the troupe under the belief that it had disbanded, but
he directly after learned that the company had reorganized
and were presenting the same play with an actor personating
him. When Bill ascertained this fact he sent a letter to the
manager demanding that the name of Wild Bill be stricken from
the advertisements, but no attention was paid to his objections.
Determined to stop the bogus exhibition Bill went to a town
where the company was announced to appear and, purchasing a
ticket, took a seat near the orchestra, ready for business. When
the bogus character at length appeared Bill jumped over the foot-
lights and seizing his personator, threw him through one of the
scenes, and then knocked down the manager, who was dressed
in the disguise of an Indian, and kicked him over the lights and
onto the fellow who was blowing a big horn in the orchestra.
The excitement broke up the performance and Bill was arrested,
but was let off with a fine of three dollars, which he cheerfully
paid for so happy a privilege, after which he went West and
participated in several adventures of a thrilling character, a
description of which, however, does not properly belong here,

A HUNT WITH ME. MEDLEY.

Jack and I played a very successful season, closing at Boston
on the 13th of May, 1874. Business called me to New York,
and while attending to several matters preparatory to returning
to the West, I met an English gentleman, Thomas P. Medley,
of London, who had come to America for a hunt on the plains.
He had often heard of me and was anxious to engage me as his
guide and companion, and he offered to pay the liberal salary of
one thousand dollars a month while I was with him. He was a

AUTOBIOGRAPHT OF BUFFALO BILL,

269

fery wealthy man, as I learned upon inquiry, and was a relative
of Mr. Lord, of the firm of Lord & Taylor, of New York. Of
course I accepted his
offer.

When we reached
the hunting ground
in Nebraska, he in-
formed me, s o m e-
wnat to my surprise,
that he did not want
to go out as Alexis
did, with carriages,
servants, and other
luxuries, but that he
wished to rough it
just as I would do —
to sleep on the
ground in the open
air, and kill and cook
his own meat. Wo
started out from
North Platte, and
spent several weeks
in hunting all over
the country.

Mr. Medley proved
to be a very agree-
able gentleman and
an excellent hunter.
While in camp he
busied himself carry-
ing wood and water,
attending to the fire,
and preparing and cooking the meals, never asking me to do a
thing. He did not perform these m enial services to save expenses,
but because he wanted t>^ do an the other hunteis in the oarty

270 STORr OF THE WILD WEST.

were doing. After spending as much time as he wished, we re-
tm*ned to the railroad, and he took the train for the East. Every-
thing that was required on this hunt was paid for ir, a most liberal
manner by Mr. Medley, who also gave the members of the party
several handsome presents.

About this time an expedition consisting of seven companies
of cavalry and two companies of infantry, to be commanded
by Colonel Mills of the Third Cavalry, was being organized to
scout the Powder river and Big Horn country, and I was em-
ployed as guide for the command. Proceeding to Eawlins,
Wyoming, we ''outfitted,'* and other guides were engaged —
among them Tom Sun and Bony Ernest, two noted Rocky
mountain scouts. We there left the railroad, and passing
through the Seminole range of the Rocky mountains we estab-
lished our supply camp at the foot of Independence Rock on the
Sweet Water. I was now on my old familiar stamping ground,
and it seemed like home to me. Fifteen years before, I had rid-
den the pony express and driven the overland stages through
this region, and the command was going into the same section of
country where Wild Bill's expedition of stage-drivers and ex-
press-riders had recaptured from the Indians a large number of
stolen stage-horses, as previously related.

Leaving the infantry to guard the supply camp. Colonel Mills
struck out for the north with the seven companies of cavalry,
and in a few days surprised Little Wolf's band of Arapahoes and
drove them into the agencies. We then scouted the Powder
river, Crazy Woman's fork, and Clear fork, and then pushed
westward through the mountains to the Wind river. After hav-
ing been out for a month or two we were ordered to return.

I immediately went East and organized another dramatic com-
pany tor the season of 1874-75, Texas Jack being absent in the
Yellowstone country hunting with the Earl of Dunraven. I
played my company in all the principal cities of the country,
doing a good business wherever I went. The summer of 1875 I
spent at Rochester with my family.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 271

DEATH OF MY ONLY LITTLE BOY .

For the season of 1875-76, Texas Jack and I reorgamzeu oui
old combination, and made a very successful tour. While we
were playing at Springfield, Massachusetts, April 20th and 21sty
1876, a telegram was handed me just as I was going on the stage,
I opened it and found it to be from Colonel G. W. Torrence, of
Rochester, an intimate friend of the family, who stated that my
little boy Kit was dangerously ill with the scarlet fever. This
was indeed sad news, for little Kit had always been my greatest
pride. I sent for John Burke, our business manager, and show-
ing him the telegram, told him that I would play the first act,
and making a proper excuse to the audience, I would then take
the nine o'clock strain that same evening for Rochester, leaving
him to play out my part. This I did, and at ten o'clock the
next morning I arrisred in Rochester, and was met at the depot
by my intimate friend Moses Kerngood who at once drove me
to my home. I found my little boy unable to speak but he
seemed to recognize me and putting his little arms around my
neck he tried to kiss me. We did everything in our power tc
save him, but it was of no avail. The Lord claimed his own,
and that evening at six o'clock my beloved little Kit died in my
arms. We laid him away to rest in the beautiful cemetery ot
Mount Hope amid sorrow and tears.

272

STOBY OP THE WILD WEST.

CHAPTER XXI,

SCOUTING WITH THE FIFTH CAVALRY.

closed our theatrical seasoTi
earlier than usual in the
spring of 1876, because I
was anxious to take part in
the Sioux war ^hich
was then breaking out.
Colonel Mills had writ-
ten me several letters say-
ing that General Crook was
anxious to have me accom-
pany his comii^and, and I
promised to do so, mtending to overtake him in the Powdei
river country. But when I arrived at Chicago, on my way
west, I learned that my old regiment, the gallant Fifth Cavalry,
was on its way back from Arizona to join General Crook, and
that my old commander. General Carr, was in command. He
had written to military headquarters at Chicago to learn my
whereabouts, as he wished to secure me as his guide and chief
of scouts. I then gave up the idea of overtaking General Crook,
and hastening on to Cheyenne, whe^e the Fifth Cavalry had al-
ready arrived, I was met at the depot by Lieutenant King, adju-
tant of the regiment, he having been sent down from Fort D.
A. Russell for that purpose by General Carr, who had learned
by a telegram from military headquarters at Chicago that I was
on the way. I accompanied the lieutenant on horseback to the
camp, and as we rode, one of the boys shouted, *' Here's Buffalo
Bill!*' Soon after there came three hearty cheers from the
regiment. Officers and men were all glad to see me, and I was
equally delighted to meet them once more. The General at
once appointed me his guide and chief of ecouts.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL

273

The next morning the command pulled out for Fort Laramie,
and on reaching the post we found General Sheridan there, ac-
companied by General Frye and General Forsyth, en route to Eed
Cloud agency. As the command was to remain here a few days.

INDIANS DESTROYING
THE TELEGRAPH LINE.

I accompanied General
Sheridan to Red Cloud
and back, taking a com-
pany of cavalry as
escort.

The Indians having recently committed a great many depreda-
tions on the Union Pacific railroad, destroying telegraph lines,
and also on the Black Hills road running off stock, the Fifth
Cavalry was sent out to scout the country between the Indian
agencies and the hills. The command operated oi. 'ciiC South
fork of the Cheyenne and at the foot of the Black Hills for
about two weeks, having several small engagements with roving

274 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

bands of Indians during the time. General Wesley Merritt-^
who had lately received his promotion to the Colonelcy of the
Fifth Cavalry — now came out and took control of the regiment.
I was sorry that the command was taken from General Carr,
because under him it had made its fighting reputation. How-
ever, upon becoming acquainted with General Merritt, I found
him to be an excellent officer.

REPORT OF THE CUSTER MASSACRE AND CAUSES LEADING THERETO.

The regiment, by continued scouting, soon drove the Indians
tut of that section of the country, as we supposed, and we had
started on our way back to Fort Laramie, when a scout arrived
at the camp and reported the massacre of General Custer and his
band of heroes on the Little Big Horn, on the 25th of June, 1876 ;
and he also brought orders to General Merritt to proceed at once
to Fort Fetterman and join General Crook in the Big Horn county.

The extraordinary and sorrowful interest attaching to the de-
stvuction of Custer and his brave followers, felt by the whole
civilized world, prompts me to give herewith a brief description
of the causes leading thereto, and some of the details of that
horrible sacrifice which so melts the heart to pity.

When the Black Hills gold fever first broke out in 1874, a
ru.3h of miners into that country resulted in much trouble, as the
Indians always regarded that region with jealous interest, and
resisted all encroachments of white men. Instead of the Gov-
ernment adhering to the treaty of 1868 and restraining white
men from going into the Hills, Gen. Custer was sent out, in 1874,
to intimidate the Sioux. The unrighteous spirit of this order
the General wisely disregarded, but proceeded to Prospect Val-
ley, and from there he pushed on to the valley of the Little
Missouri. Custer expected to find good grazing ground in this
valley, suitable for a camp which he intended to pitch there for
several days, and reconnoiter, but the country was comparatively
barren and the march was therefore continued to the Belle
Fourche valley, where excellent grazing, water, and plenty of
wood was found.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 275

Crossing the Fourche the expedition wa3 now among the out-
lying ranges of the Hills, where a camp was made and some
reconnoitering done; but finding no Indians, Gen. Custer con-
tinued his march, skirting the Black Hills and passing through
a country which he described as beautiful beyond description,
abounding with a most luxurious vegetation, cool, crystal
streams, a profusion of gaudy, sweet smelling flowers, and
plenty of game.

Proceeding down this lovely valley, which he appropriately
named Floral Park, an Indian camp-fire, recently abandoned,
was discovered, and fearing a collision unless pains were taken
to prevent it, Custer halted and sent out his chief scout, Bloody
Knife, with twenty friendly Indian allies to trail the departed
Sioux. They had gone but a short distance when, as Custer
himself relates: *' Two of Bloody Knife's young men came gal-
loping back and informed me that they had discovered five In-
dian lodges a few miles down the valley, and that Bloody Knife,
as directed, had concealed his party in a wooded ravine, where
they awaited further orders. Taking E company with me, which
was afterward reinforced by the remainder of the scouts and Col.
Hart's company, I proceeded to the ravine where Bloody Knife
and his party lay concealed, and from the crest beyond obtained
a full view of the five Indian lodges, about which a considerable
number of ponies were grazing. I was enabled to place my
command still nearer to the lodges undiscovered. I then dis-
patched Agard, the interpreter, with a flag of truce, accompanied
by ten of our Sioux scouts, to acquaint the occupants of the
lodges that we were friendly disposed and desired to communi-
cate with them. To prevent either treachery or flight on their
part, I galloped the remaining portion of my advance and sur-
rounded the lodges. This was accomplished almost before they
were aware of our presence. I then entered the little village and
shook hands with its occupants, assuring them through the inter-
preter, that they had no cause to fear, as we were not there to
molest them, etc."

Finding there was no disposition on the part of Gen. Custer

276 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

to harm them, the Indians dispatched a courier to their principal
village, requesting the warriors to be present at a council with
the whites. This council was held on the following day, but
though Custer dispensed coffee, sugar, bacon and other presents
to the Indians, his advice to them regarding the occupation of
their country by miners was treated with indifference, for which,
he observes in his official report, '* I cannot blame the poor sav-
ages.*'

MINERS IN THE BLACK HILLS.

During the summer of 1875 Gen. Crook made several trips
into the Black Hills to drive out the miners and maintain the
government's faith, but while he made many arrests there was
no punishment and the whole proceeding became farcical. In
August of the same year Custer City was laid out and two weeks
later it contained a population of six hundred souls. These Gen.
Crook drove out, but as he marched from the place others
swarmed in and the population was immediately renewed.

It was this inability, or real indisposition, of the government
to enforce the terms of the treaty of 1868 that led to the bitter
war with Sitting Bull and which terminated so disastrously on
the 25th of June, 1876.

It is a notorious fact that the Sioux Indians, for four year?
immediately preceding the Custer massacre, were regularly sup-
plied with the most improved fire-arms and ammunition by the
agencies at Brule, Grand River, Standing Rock, Fort Berthold,
Cheyenne and Fort Peck. Even during the campaign of 1876,
in the months of May, June and July, just before and after
Custer and his band of heroes rode down into the valley of death,
these fighting Indians received eleven hundred and twenty Win^
Chester and Remington rifles and 413,000 rounds of patent
ammunition, besides large quantities of loose powder, lead and
primers, while during the summer of 1875 they received several
thousand stand of arms and more than a million rounds of am-
munition. With this generous provision there is no cause for
wonder that the Sioux were able to resist the government and

278 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

attract to their aid all the dissatisfied Chejennes and other In-
dians in the Northwest.

Besides a perfect fighting equipment, all the Indians recog-
nized in Sitting Bull the elements of a great warrior, one whose
superior, perhaps, has never been known among any tribe; he
. combined all the strategic cunning of Tecumseh with the cruel,
uncompromising hatred of Black Kettle, while his leadership was
far superior to both. Having decided to precipitate a terrible
war, he chose his position with consummate judgment, selecting
a central vantage point surrounded by what is known as the
** bad lands," and then kept his supply source open by an as-
sumed friendship with the Canadian French. This he was the
better able to accomplish, since some years before he had pro-
fessed conversion to Christianity under the preaching of Father
DeJmet and maintained a show of great friendship for the Can-
adians.

WAR DECLARED AGAINST THE SIOUX.

War against the Sioux having been declared, brought s,bout
by the combined causes of Black Hill outrages and Sitting Bull's
threatening attitude, it was iecided to send out three separate
expeditions, one of which should move from the north, under
Gen. Terry, from Fort Lincoln; another from the east, under
Gen. Gibbon, from Fort Ellis, and another from the south, under
Gen. Crook, from Fort Fetterman; the^e movements were to be
simultaneous, and a junction was expected to be formed near the
headwaters of the Yellowstone river.

For some cause, which I will refrain from discussing, the
commands did not start at the same time. Gen. Crook did not
leave Fetterman until March 1st, with seven hundred men and
forty days' supply. The command was intrusted to Col. Rey-
nolds, of the Third Cavalry, accompanied by Gen, Crook, the
department commander. Nothing was heard of this expedition
until the 22d following, when Gen. Crook forwarded from Ft.
Reno a brief account of his battle on Powder river. The result
of this fight, which lasted five hours, was the destructiop of
Crazy Horse's village of one hundred and five lodges; or tha\

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 279

is the way the dispatch read, though many assert that the battle
resulted in little else than a series of remarkable blunders which
suffered the Indians to make good their escape, losing only a
small quantity of their property.

One serious trouble arose out of the Powder river fight, which
was found in an assertion made by Gen. Crook, or at least at-
tributed to him, that his expedition had proved that instead of
there being 15,000 or 20,000 hostile Indians in the Black Hills
and Big Horn county, that the total number would not exceed
2,000. It was upon this estimation that the expeditions were
prepared.

The Terry column, which was commanded by Gen. Custer,
consisted of twelve companies of the Seventh Cavalry, and three
companies of the Sixth and Seventeenth Infantry, with four
Gatling guns, and a detachment of Indian scouts. This force
comprised twenty-eight officers and seven hundred and forty-
seven men, of the Seventh Cavalry, eight officers and one hundred
and thirty-five men of the Sixth and Seventeenth Infantry, two
officers and thirty-two men in charge of the Gatling battery, and
forty-five enlisted Indian scouts, a grand total of thirty-eight
officers and nine hundred and fifty-nine men, including scouts.

The combined forces of Crook, Gibbon, Terry and Custer, did
not exceed twenty-seven hundred men, while opposed to them
were fully 17,000 Indians, all of whom were provided with the
latest and most improved patterns of repeating rifles.

On the 16th of June Gen. Crook started for the Rosebud, on
which stream it was reported that Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse
were stationed ; about the same time a party of Crow Indians,
who were operating with Gen. Crook, returned from a scout and
reported that Gen. Gibbon, who was on Tongue river, had been
attacked by Sitting Bull, who had captured several horses.
Crook pushed on rapidly toward the Rosebud, leaving his train
behind and mounting his infantry on mules. What were deemed
accurate reports, stated that Sitting Bull was still on the Rose-
bud, only sixty miles from the point where Gen. Crook camped
on the night of the 15th of June. The command traveled forty

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL, 281

miles on the sixteenth, and when within twenty miles of the
Sioux' principal position, instead of pushing on. Gen. Crook
went into camp.

ATTACKED BY SITTING BULL.

The next morning he was much surprised at finding himself
attacked by Sitting Bull, who swooped down on him with the
first streaks of coming dawn, and a heavy battle followed. Gen.
Crook, who had camped in a basin surrounded on all sides by
high hills, soon found his position so dangerous that it must be
changed at all hazards. The advance was therefore sounded with
Noyes' battalion occupying a position on the right. Mills on the
right center, Chambers in the center, and the Indian allies on the
left. Mills and Noyes charged the enemy in magnificent style,
breaking the line and striking the rear. The fight continued hot
and furious until 2 p. m., when a gallant charge of Col. Koyall,
who was in reserve, supported by the Indian allies, caused the
Sioux to draw off to their village, six miles distant, while Gen.
Crook went into camp, where he remained inactive for two days.
In the meantime, as the oflicial report recites: *' Generals
Terry and Gibbon communicated with each other June 1st, near
the junction of the Tongue and Yellowstone rivers, and learned
that a heavy force of Indians had concentrated on the opposite
bank of the Yellowstone, but eighteen miles distant. For four-
teen days the Indian pickets had confronted Gibbon's videttes."
Gen. Gibbon reported to Gen. Terry that the cavalry had
thoroughly scouted the Yellowstone as far as the mouth of the
Big Horn, and no Indians had crossed it. It was now certain
that they were not prepared for them, and on the Powder,
Tongue, Rosebud, Little Horn and Big Horn rivers. Gen. Terry
at once commenced feeling for them. Major Reno, of the
Seventh Cavalry, with six companies of that regiment, was sent
up Powder river one hundred and fifty miles, to the mouth of
Little Powder to look for the Indians, and, if possible to
communicate with General Crook. He reached the mouth of
the Little Powder in ^vf^ da^s, but saw no Indians, and could

282 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

bear nothing of Crook. As he returned, he found on the Eose-
bud a very large Indian trail, about nine days old, and followed
it a short distance, when he turned about up Tongue river, and
reported to Gen. Terry what he had seen. It v/as now known
that no Indians were on either Tongue oi Little Powder rivers,
and the net had narrowed down to Rosebud, Little Horn and Big
Horn rivers.

Gen. Terry, who had been waiting with Custer and the
steamer Far West, at the mouth of Tongue river, for Reno's
report, as soon as he heard it, ordered Custer to march up the
south bank to a point opposite Gen. Gibbon, who was encamped
on the north bank of the Yellowstone. Accordingly Terry, on
board the steamer Far West, pushed up the Yellowstone, keep-
ing abreast of Gen. Custer's column.

Gen. Gibbon was found in camp quietly awaiting develop-
ments. A consultation was had with Gens. Gibbon and Custer,
and then Gen. Terry definitely fixed upon the plan of action.
It was believed the Indians were at the head of the Rosebud, or
over on the Little Horn, a dividing ridge only fifteen miles wide
separating the two streams. It was announced by Gen. Terry
that Gen. Custer's column *' would strike the blow."

At the time that a junction was formed between Gibbon and
Terry, Gen. Crook was about one hundred miles from them,
while Sitting Bull's forces were between the commands.
Crook, after his battle, fell back to the head of Tongue river.
The Powder, Tongue, Rosebud and Big Horn rivers all flow
northwest, and empty into the Yellowstone ; as Sitting Bull was
between the headwaters of the Rosebud and Big Horn, the main
tributary of the latter being known as the Little Big Horn, a
sufficient knowledge of the topography of the country is thus
afforded by which to definitely locate Sitting Bull and his forces.

Having now ascertained the position of the enemy, or rea-
soned out the probable position. Gen. Terry sent a dispatch to
Gen. Sheridan, as follows: ** No Indians have been met with as
yet, but traces of a large and recent camp have been discovered
twenty or thirty miles up the Rosebud. Gibbon's column will

AtTOBIOGRAPHT OP BUFFALO BILl-

283

move this morning on the north side of the Yellowstone, for
the mouth of the Big Horn, where it wiil be ferried across by the
supply steamer,
and whence it will
proceed to the
mouth of the Little
Horn, and so on.
Custer will go up
the Rosebud to-
morrow with his
whole regiment,
and thence to the
headwaters of
the Little Horn,
thence down that
stream."

FoUowiiag this
report came an
order ^ signed by
E. W. Smith,
Captain of the
Eighteenth In-
fantry, Acting
Assistant Adjut-
ant-Ge ner al ,
directing General
Custer to follow
the Indian trail
discovered, push-
ing the Indians
fro'ii one side
whi^e Gen. Gibbon
p u i' s u e d them
from an opposite
dire^jtion. As no instructions were given as to the rate each
divijjon should travel, Custer, noted for his quick, energetic

284 iTORY OF THE WILD WEST.

jaovements, made ninety miles the first three days, and, dis-
joyering the Indians in large numbers, divided his command
into three divisions, one of which he placed under Major Reno,
another under Major Benteen, and led the other himself.

CrSTEK 8TBIKE8 THE INDIANS.

As Custer made a detour to enter the village, Reno struck a
large body of In lians, who, after retreating nearly three miles,
turned on the troops and ran them pell mell across Grassy creeii
Into the woods. E'eno over-estimated the strength of his enemies
and thought he was being surrounded. Benteen came up to the
support of Reno, but he too took fright and got out of his posi-
tion without striking the enemy. ^

While Reno and Benteen were trying to keep open a way for
their retreat, Custer charged on the village, first sending a cour-
ier. Trumpeter Martin, to Reno and Benteen with the following
dispatch: *« Big village; be quick; send on the packs." This
order was too plain to be misconstrued. It clearly meant
that he had discovered the village, which he intended attacking
at once; to hurry forward to his support and bring up the packs,
ambulances, etc. But instead of obeying orders, Reno and
Benteen stood aloof, fearful lest they should endanger their posi-
tion, while the brave Custer and his squad of noble heroes rushed
down like a terrible avalanche upon the Indian village. In a
moment, fateful incident, the Indians came swarming about that
heroic band until the very earth seemed to open and let loose
the elements of volcanic fury, or like a riot of the fiends of
Erebus, blazing with the hot sulphur of their impious dominion.
Down from the hillside, up through the valleys, that dreadful
torrent of Indian cruelty and massacre poured around the little
squad to swallow it up with one grand swoop of fire. But Custer
was there at the head, like Spartacus fighting the legions about
him, tall, graceful, brave as a lion at bay, and with thunderbolts in
his hands. His brave followers formed a hollow square, and
met the rush, and roar, and fury of the demons. Bravely they
breasted that battle shock, bravely stood up and faced the leaden

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO B1LL« 285

hail, nor quailed when looking into the blazing muzzles of five
thousand deadly rifles.

HOPING AGAINST HOPE.

Brushing away the powder grimes that had settled in his face,
Custer looked over the boiling sea of fury around him, peering
through the smoke for some signs of Reno and Bcnteen, but
seeing none yet thinking of the aid which must soon come, with
cheering words to his comrades, he renewed the battle, fighting
still like a Hercules and piling heaps of victims around his very
feet.

Hour after hour passed and yet no friendly sign of Reno's
coming; nothing to be seen saving the battle smoke, streaks of
fire splitting through the misty clouds, blood flowing in rivulets
under tramping feet, dying comrades, and Indians swarming
about him, rending the air with their demoniacal ** hi-yi-yip-
y ah , — yah-hi-yah . "

THE MASSACRE.

The fight continued with unabated fury until late in the after-
noon ; men had sunk down beside their gallant leader until there
was but a handful left, only a dozen, bleeding from many wounds
and hot carbines in their stiffening hands. The day is almost
done, when look! heaven now defend him! the charm of his
life is broken, for Custer has fallen ; a bullet cleaves a pathway
through his side, and as he falters another strikes his noble
breast. Like a strong oak stricken by the lightning's bolt,
shivering the mighty trunk and bending its withering branches
down close to the earth, so fell Custer; but like the reacting
branches, he rises partly up again, and striking out like a fatally
wounded giant lays three more Indians dead and breaks his
mighty sword on the musket of a fourth ; then, with useless
blade and empty pistol falls back the victim of a dozen wounds.
He is the last to succumb to death, and dies, too, with the glory
of accomplished duty on his conscience and the benediction of a
grateful country on his head. The place where fell these noblest

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUITALO BILL 287

of God's* heroes is sacred ground, and though it be the Golgotha
of a nation's mistakes it is bathed with precious blood, rich with
the germs of heroic inheritance.

I have avoided attaching blame to any one, using only the
facts that have been furnished me of how Custer came to attack
the Sioux village and how and why he died.

When the news of the terrible massacre was learned, soldiers
everywhere made a pilgrimage to the sacred place, and friendl}/
hands reared a monument on that distant spot commemorative of
the heroism of Custer and his men ; collected together all the
bones and relics of the battle and piled them up in pyramidal
form, where they stand in sunshine and storm, overlooking the
Little Big Horn.

Soon after the news of Custer s massacre reached us prepara-
tions were immediately made to avenge his death. The whole
Cheyenne and Sioux tribes were in revolt and a lively, if not
very dangerous, campaign was in prospective.

AFTER THE MURDERERS OF CUSTER,

Two days before receipt of the news of the massacre, Colonel
Stanton, who was with the Fifth Cavalry, had been sent to Ked
Cloud agency and on the evening of the receipt of news of the
Custer fight a scout arrived in our camp with a message from
the Colonel informing General Mcrritt that eight hundred Chey-
enne warriors had that day left Red Cloud agency to join Sitting
Bull's hostile forces in the Big Horn country.

Notwithstanding the instructions to proceed immediately
to join General Crook by the way of Fort Fetterman, Colonel
Merritt took the responsibility of endeavoring to intercept the
Cheyennes, and as the sequel shows he performed a very impor-
tant service.

He selected five hundred men and horses, and in two hours we
were making a forced march back to Hat, or War Bonnet creek —
the intention being to reach the main Indian trail running to the
north across that creek before the Cheyennes could get there.
We arrived there the next night, and at daylight the following

288

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

morning, July 17th, 1876, I went out on a scout, and found thai
the Indians had not yet crossed the creek. On my way back to
the command 1 discovered a large party of Indians, which proved
to be the Cheyennes, coming up from the south, and I hurried to
the camp with this important information.

The cavalrymen quietly mounted their horses, and were ordered
to remain out of sight, while General Merritt, accompanied by
two or three aides and myself, went out on a little tour of ob-
servation to a
neighboring hill,
from the summit
of which we saw
that the Indians
were approach-
ing almost direct-
ly towards us.
Presently fifteen
or twenty of them
dashed off to the
west in the direc-
tion from which
we had come the
before ;
and upon closer
^^ observation with

INDIANS RUNNING OFF STOCK. QUr field glaSSCS,

we discovered two mounted soldiers, evidently carrying dis-
patches for us, pushing forward on our trail.

m night

MY DUEL WITH YELLOW HAND.

The Indians were evidently endeavoring to intercept these two
men, and General Merritt feared that they would accomplish their
object. He did not think it advisable to send out any soldiers
to the assistance of the couriers, for fear they would show to the
Indians that there were troops in the vicinity who we'-e waiting
for them. I finally suggested that the best plan was to wa»*

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AUTOBIOGRAPHT OF BUTFALO BILL. 289

until tne couriers came closer to the command, and then just as
the Indians were about to charge, to let me take the scouts and
cut them off from the main body of the Cheyennes, who were
coming over the divide.

'*A11 right, Cody,'* said the General, " if you can do that, go
ahead."

I rushed back to the command, jumped on my horse, picked
out fifteen men, and returned with them to the point of observa-
tion. I told General Merritt to give us the word to start out at
the proper time, and presently he sang out:

** Go in now, Cody, and be quick about it. They are going
to charge on the couriers."

The two messengers were not over four hundred yards from
us, and the Indians were only about two hundred yards behind
them. We instantly dashed over the bluffs, and advanced on a
gallop towards the Indians. A running fight lasted several min-
utes, during which we drove the enemy some little distance and
killed three of their number. The rest of them rode off towards
the main body, which had come into plain sight, and halted,
upon seeing the skirmish that was going on. We were about
half a mile from General Merritt, and the Indians whom we
were chasing suddenly turned upon us, and another lively skir-
mish took place. One of the Indians, who was handsomely dec^
orated with all the ornaments usually worn by a war chief when
engaged in a fight, sang out to me, in his own tongue: <« I
know you, Pa-he-haska; if you want to fight, come ahead and
fight me."

The chief wae riding his horse back and forth in front of his
men, as if to banter me, and I concluded to accept the challenge
I galloped towards him for fifty yards and he advanced towards
me about the same distance, both of us riding at full speed, and
then, when we were only about' thirty yards apart, I raised my
rifle and fired; his horse fell to the ground, having been killed
by my bullet. Almost at the same instant my own horse went
down, he having stepped into a gopher hole. The fall did not hurt
me much, and I instantly sprang to my feet. The Indian ha(i

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL- 291

also recovered himself, and we were now both on foot, and not
more than twenty paces apart. We fired at each other simul-
taneously. My usual luck did not desert me on this occasion,
for his bullet missed me, while mine struck him in the breast.
He reeled and fell, but before he had fairly touched the ground
I was upon him, knife in hand, and had driven the keen-edged
weapon to its hilt in his heart. Jerking his war-bonnet off, I
scientifically scalped him in about five seconds.

A MOMENT OF GREAT DANGER.

The whole affair from beginning to end occupied but little
time, and the Indians, seeing that I was some little distance from
my company, now came charging down upon me from a hill, in
hopes of cutting me off. General Merritt had witnessed the
duel, and realizing the danger I was in, ordered Colonel Mason
with Company K to hurry to my rescue. The order came none
too soon, for had it been given one minute hiter I would have had
not less than two hundred Indians upon me. As the soldiers came
up I swung the Indian chieftain's top-knot and bonnet in the air,
and shouted : —

^^ The first scalp for Custer.^'

General Merritt, seeing that he could not now ambush the In-
dians, ordered the whole regiment to charge upon them. They
made a stubborn resistance for a little while, but it was of no
use for any eight hundred, or even sixteen hundred Indians to
try and check a charge of the gallant old Fifth Cavalry, and
they soon came to that conclusion and began a running retreat
towards Red Cloud agency. For thirty-five miles we drove them,
pushing them so hard that they were obliged to abandon their
loose horses, their camp equipage and everything else. We
drove them into the agency, and followed in ourselves, notwith-
standing the possibility of our having to encounter the thousands
of Indians at that point. We were uncertain whether or not the
other agency Indians had determined to follow the example of
the Cheyennes and strike out upon the war-path ; but that made
no difference with the Fifth Cavalry, for they would have fought
them all if necessary. It was dark when we rode into the agency.

292

STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

where we found thousands of Indians collected together; but
they manifested no disposition to fight.

While at the agency I learned the name of the Indian chief
whom I had killed in the morning ; it was Yellow Hand, a son

of old Cut-
nose — a
1 e a d i ng
chief of the
Cheyennes.
Cut-nose
having
learned
that I had
killed h i s
son sent a
white i n-
terpreterto
me with a
message to
the effect
that he
would give
me f our
mules if I
would turn
over to him
Yellow
Hand's
w a r-b o n -
net, guns,

pistols, ornaments, and other paraphernaha which I had captured.
I sent back word to the old gentleman that it would give me pleas-
ure to accommodate him, but I could not do it this time.

AGAIN IN PURSUIT OF THE SIOUX.

The next morning we started to join General Crook, who was
camped near the foot of Cloud Peak in the Big Horn mountains,

THE FIRST SCALP FOR CUSTER.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 293

awaiting the arrival of the Fifth Cavalry, before proceeding
against the Sioux, who were somewhere near the head of the
Little Big Horn, — as his scouts informed himo We made rapid
marches and reached General Crook's camp on Goose creek
about the 3d of August.

At this camp I met many old friends, among whom was Colonel
Royall, who had received his promotion to the Lieutenant-Col-
onelcy of the Third Cavalry. He introduced me to General
Crook, whom I had never met before, but of whom I had often
heard. He also introduced me to the General's chief guide,
Frank Grouard, a half breed, who had lived six years with Sit-
ting Bull, and knew the country thoroughly.

We remained in this camp only one day, and then the whole
troop pulled out for the Tongue river, leaving our wagons be-
hind, but taking with us a large pack train. We marched down
the Tongue river for two days, thence in a westerly direction
over to the Rosebud, where we struck the main Indian trail,
leading down this stream. From the size of the trail, which ap-
peared to be about four days old, we estimated that there must
have been in the neighborhood of seven thousand Indians in
the war party.

For two or three days we pushed on, but we did not seem to
gain much on the Indians, as they were evidently making about
the same marches that we were. On the fourth or fifth morning
of our pursuit, I rode ahead of the command about ten miles,
and mounting a hill I scanned the country far and wide with my
field glass, and discovered an immense column of dust rising
about ten miles further down the creek, and soon I noticed a
body of men marching towards me, that at first I believed to be
the Indians of whom we were in pursuit ; but subsequently they
proved to be General Terry's command. I sent back word to
that effect to General Crook, by a scout who had accompanied
me, but after he had departed I observed a band of Indians on
the opposite side of the creek, and also another party directly
in front of me. This led me to believe that I had made a mis-
take. But shortly afterwards mjj attention was attracted by the

294 ^TORY OF THE WILD WEST.

appearance of a body of soldiers, who were forming into a skirmish
line, and then I became convinced that it was General Terry's
command after all, and that the red-skins whom I had seen were
some of his friendly Indian scouts, who had mistaken me for a
Sioux, and fled back to their command terribly excited, shouting,
" The Sioux are coming!"

A LITTLE DUST CAUSES MUCH EXCITEMENT,

General Terry at once came to the post, and ordered the Sev-
enth Cavalry to form line of battle across the Rosebud ; he also
ordered up his artillery and had them prepare for action, doubt-
less dreading another *' Custer massacre." I afterwards learned
the Indian had seen the dust raised by General Crook's forces,
and had reported that the Sioux were coming.

These manoeuvres I witnessed from my position with consid-
erable amusement, thinking the command must be badly demor-
alized, when one man could cause a whole army to form line of
battle and prepare for action. Having enjoyed the situation to
my heart's content, I galloped down towards the skirmish line,
waving my hat and when within about one hundred yards of
the troops. Colonel Weir, of the Seventh Cavalry, galloped out
and met me. He recognized me at once, and accompanied me
inside the line; then he sang out, ** Boys, here's Buffalo Bill.
Some of you old soldiers know him; give him a cheer!" There-
upon the regiment gave three rousing cheers, and it was followed
up all along the line.

Colonel Weir presented me to General Terry, and in answer
to his question I informed him that the alarm of Indians which
had been given was a false one, as the dust seen by his scouts
was caused by General Crook's troops. General Terry thereup-
on rode forward to meet General Crook, and I accompanied him
at his request. That night both commands went into camp on
the Rosebud. General Terry had his wagon train with him,
and everything to make life comfortable on an Indian campaign.
He had large wall tents and portable beds to sleep in, and commo-
dious hospital tents for dining-rooms. His camp looked very com'

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL, 295

z'ortable and attractive, and presented a great contrast t J that of
General Crook, who had for his headquarters only one small fly
tent; and whose cooking utensils consisted of a quart cup — in
which he made his coffee himself — and a stick upon which he
broiled his bacon. When I compared the two camps, I came to the
conclusion that General Crook was an Indian fighter; for it was
evident that he had learned that, to follow and fight Indians, a
body of men must travel lightly and not be detained by a wag-
on train or heavy luggage of any kind.

That evening General Terry ordered General Mills to take his
regiment, the Fifth Infantry, and return by a forced march to
the Yellowstone, and proceed down the river by steamboat to
the mouth of Powder river, to intercept the Indians, in case they,
attempted to cross the Yellowstone. General Miles made a
forced march that night of thirty-five miles, which was splendid
traveling for an infantry regiment through a mountainous
country.

Generals Crook and Terry spent that evening and the next day
in council, and on the following morning both commands moved
out on the Indian trail. Although General Terry was the senior
officer, he did not assume command of both expeditions, but left
General Crook in command of his own troops, although they op-
erated together. We crossed the Tongue river to Powder river,
and proceeded down the latter stream to a point twenty miles
from its junction with the Yellowstone, where the Indian trail
turned to the southeast in the direction of the Black Hills. The
two commands now being nearly out of supplies, the trail was
abandoned, and the troops kept on down Powder river to its con-
fluence with the Yellowstone, and remained there several days.
Here we met General Mills, who reported that no Indians had as
yet crossed the Yellowstone. Several steamboats soon arrived
with a large quantity of supplies, Knd oD«e mor^ *hA ** Boys iD
in Blue '* were made happy.

296

STOBSr OP THE WILD WEST.

CHAPTER XXn.

DANGEROU« WORK.

NE evening A»^liile we were in camp ox the
Yellowstone af the mouth of Powder nver,
I was informed that the commanding offic-
era had selected Louis Richard, a half breed
and myself to accompany General Mills on
a scouting expedition on the pteamcif Fat
West, down the Yellowstone as fa^^ as Glen-
dive creek. We were to ride on the pilot
house and keep a sharp lookout on both ?ide9
the river for Indian trails that might have
crossed the stream. The idea of scouting »jn a
steamboat was indeed a novel one to me, and .( an-
ticipated a pleasant trip.
At daylight next morning we reported on board the steamer
to General Mills, who had with him four or five companies of
his regiment. We were somewhat surprised when he asked us
where our horses were, as we had not supposed that horses would
be needed if the scouting was to be done on the steamer. He said
we might need them before we got back, and thereupon we had
the animals brought on board. In a few minutes we were boom-
ing down the river at the rate of about twenty miles an hour.

The steamer Far West was commanded by Captain Grant Marsh,
whom I found to be an interesting character. I had often heard
of him, for he was and is yet one of the best known river cap-
tains in the country. He it was who, with his steamer the Far
West, transported the wounded men from the battle of the Little
Big Horn to Fort Abraham Lincoln on the Missouri river, and
on that trip he made the fastest steamboat time on record. He
was a skillful and experienced pilot, handling his boat with re-
markable dexterity

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

297

While Richard and myself were at our stations on the pilot
house, the steamer with a full head of steam went flying past
islands, around bends over sand-bars, at a rate that was exhilar*

Presently I thought I

could see horses grazing in a dis-

_ ^ tant bend of the river and I re-

IIWIBhB 1 ir^^^^^^ ported the fact to General Mills,
limiUl^^r >!tJiK ^ H- ^jjQ asked Captain Marsh if he

could land the boat near a large
tree which he pointed out to
him. *' Yes, sir; I can land her
there, and make her climb the
tree if necessary," said he.

On reaching the spot designat-
ed, General Mills ordered two
companies ashore, while Richard
and myself were instructed to take
our horses off the boat and push
out as rapidly as possible to see if
there were Indians in the vicinity.
While we were getting ashore,
Captain Marsh remarked that if
there was only a good heavy dew
on the grass he would shoot the
steamer ashore and take us on the
scout without the trouble of leaving the boat.
It was a false alarm» however, as the objects we had seen

SCOUTING ON A STEAMBOAT.

298 STORY OF THE WILD WEST

proved to be Indian graves. QAiite a large number of braves
who had probably been killed in some battle, were laid on
scaffolds, according to the Indian custom, and some of their
clothing had been torn loose from the bodies by the wolves and
was waving in the air.

On arriving at Glendive creek we found that Colonel Rice and
his company of the Fifth Infantry who had been sent there by
General Mills, had built quite a good little fort with their trowel-
bayonets — a weapon which Colonel Rice was the inventor of,
and which is, by the way, a very useful implement of war, as it
can be used for a shovel in throwing up intrenchments and can
be profitably utilized in several other ways. On the day pre-
vious to our arrival. Colonel Rice had a light with a party of
Indians, and had killed two or three of them at long range with
his Rodman cannon.

A RIDE THROUGH THE BAD LANDS.

The Far AVest was to remain at Glendive over night, and Gen-
eral Mills wished to send dispatches back to General Terry at
once. At his request I took the dispatches and rode seventy-
five miles that night through the bad lands of the Yellowstone,
and reached General Terry's camp next morning, after having
nearly broken my neck a dozen times or more.

There being but little prospect of any more fighting, I deter-
mined to go East as soon as possible to organize a new *' Dram-
atic Combination," and have a new drama written for me based
upon the Sioux war. This I knew would be a paying invest-
ment as the Sioux campaign had excited considerable interest.
So I started down the river on the steamer Yellowstone en route
to Fort Beauford. On the same morning Generals Terry and
Crook pulled out for Powder river, to take up the old Indian
trail which we had recently left.

The steamer had proceeded down the stream about twenty
miles when it was met by another boat on its way up the river,
having on board General Whistler and some fresh troops for
General Terry's command. Both boats landed, and almost the

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

299

first person I met was my old friend and partner, Texas Jack,
who had been sent out as a dispatch carrier for the New York
HeraU,

General Whistler, upon learning that General Terry had left
the Yellowstone, asked me to carry to him some important dis-
patches from General Sheridan, and although I objected, he
insisted upon my performing this duty, saying that it would
only detain me a few hours longer ; as an extra inducement he
offered me the use of his own thorough-bred horse, which was

CARSON KILLS AN INDIAN THIEF AT LONG RANGE.

on the boat. I finally consented to go, and was soon speeding
over the rough and hilly country towards Powder river, and I
delivered the dispatches to General Terry the same evening.
General Whistler's horse, although a good animal was not used
to such hard riding, and was far more exhausted by the journey
than I was.

After I had taken a lunch. General Terry asked me if I would
carry some dispatches back to General Whistler, and 1 replied
that I would. Captain Smith, General Terry's aid-de-camp,
offered me his horse for the trip, and it proved to be an excel-

300 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

lent animal ; for I rode him that same night forty miles over the
bad lands in four hours, and reached General Whistler's steam-
boat at one o'clock. During my absence the Indians had made
their appearance on the different hills in the vicinity, and the
troops from the boat had had several skirmishes with them.
When General Whistler had finished reading the dispatches, he
said: *' Cody, I want to send information to General Terry con-
cerning the Indians who have been skirmishing around here all
day. I have been trying all the evening long to induce some
one to carry my dispatches to him, but no one seems willing to
undertake the trip, and I have got to fall back on you. It is
asking a great deal, I know, as you have just ridden eighty
miles; but it is a case of necessity, and if you'll go Cody, I'll
see that you are well paid for it."

*' Never mind about the pay," said I, ** but get your dispatches
ready and I'll start at once."

A TERRIBLE JOURNEY.

In a few minutes he handed me the package and, mounting
the same horse which I had ridden from General Terry's camp,
I struck out for my destination. It was two o'clock in the
morning when I left the boat, and at eight o'dock I rode into
General Terry's camp, just as he was about to march — having
made one hundred and twenty miles in twenty-two hours.

General Terry, after reading the dispatches, halted his com-
mand and then rode on and overtook General Crook, with whom
he held a council ; the result was that Crook's command moved
on in the direction which they had been pursuing, while Terry's
forces marched back to the Yellowstone and crossed the river
on steamboats. At the urgent request of General Terry I ac-
companied the command on a scout in the direction of the Dry
fork of the Missouri, where it was expected we would strike
some Indians.

The first march out from the Yellowstone was made in the
night, as we wished to get into the hills without being discovered
by the Sioux scouts. After marching three days, a little to the

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 301

east of north, we reached the buffalo range and discovered fresh
signs of Indians, who had evidently been killing buffaloes*
General Terry now called on me to carry dispatches to Colonel
Rice, who was still camped at the mouth of Glendive creek, on
the Yellowstone — distant about eighty miles from us.

Night had set in with a storm and a drizzling rain was falling
when, at ten o'clock, I started on this ride through a section of
country with which I was entirely unacquainted. I traveled
'through the darkness a distance of about thirty-five miles, and
at daylight I rode into a secluded spot at the head of a ravine
where stood a bunch of ash trees and there I concluded to remain
till night, for I considered it a dangerous undertaking to cross
the wide prairies in broad daylight — especially as my horse was
a poor one. I accordingly unsaddled my animal and ate a hearty
breakfast of bacon and hard tack which I had stored in the saddle-
pockets; then, after taking a smoke, I lay down to sleep, with
my saddle for a pillow. In a few minutes I was in the land of
dreams.

LYING LOW.

After sleeping some time — I can't tell how long — I was
suddenly awakened by a roaring, rumbling sound. I instantly
seized my gun, sprang to my horse and hurriedly secreted him
in the brush. Then I climbed up the steep side of the bank and
cautiously looked over the summit ; in the distance I saw a large
herd of buffaloes which were being chased and fired at by twenty
or thirty Indians. Occasionally a buffalo would drop out of the
herd, but the Indians kept on until they had killed ten or fifteen.
They then turned back and began to cut up their game.

I saddled my horse and tied him to a small tree where I could
reach him conveniently in case the Indians should discover me
by finding my trail and following it. I then crawled carefully
back to the summit of the bluff, and in a concealed position
watched the Indians for two hours ^ during which time they were
occupied in cutting up the buffaloes and packing the meat on
their ponies. When they had finished this work they rode off in

302

STOKY OF THE WILD WEST»

the direction whence they had come and on the line which I had
proposed to travel. It appeared evident to me that their camp
was located somewhere between me and Glendive creek, but I
had no idea of abandoning the trip on that account.

I waited till nightfall before resuming my journey, and then I
bore off to the east for several miles, and by making a semi-
circle to avoid the Indians, I got back on my original course,
and then pushed on rapidly to Colonel Rice's camp, which 1
reached just at daylight.

WATCHING THE HOSTILES.

Colonel Rice had been fighting Indians almost every day since
he had been encamped at this point, and he was very anxious to
notify General Terry of the fact. Of course I was requested to
carry his dispatches. After remaining at Glendive a single day
I started back to find General Terry, and on the third day I over-
hauled him at the head of Deer creek while on his way to
Colonel Rice's camp. He was not, however, going in the right
direction, but bearing too far to the east, and I so informed him.
He then asked me to guide the command and I did so.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 303

On arriving at Glendive I bade good-bye to the General and
his officers and took passage on the steamer Far West, which
was on her way down the Missouri. At Bismarck I left the
steamer, and proceeded by rail to Rochester, New York, where
I met my family Mr. J. Clinton Hall, manager of the Roches-
ter Opera Hous^ was very anxious to have me play an engage-
ment at his theater, so I agreed to open the season with him as
soon as I had got my drama written; and I did so, meeting with
an enthusiastic reception.

My new drama was arranged for the stage by J. V. Arlington,
the actor. It was a five-act play, without head or tail, and
it made no diffarence at which act we commenced the per-
formance. Before we had finished the season several news-
paper critics, I have been told, went crazy in trying to
follow the plot. It afforded us, however, ample opportunity
to give a noisy, rattling, gunpowder entertainment, and to pre-
sent a succession of scenes in the late Indian war, all of which
seemed to give general satisfaction.

RETURN TO THE MIMIC STAGE.

From Rochester I went to New York and played a very suc-
cessful engagement at the Grand Opera House under the man-
agement of Messrs. Poole and Donnelly. Thence my route took
me to all the principal cities in the Eastern, Western and Middle
States, and I everywhere met with crowded houses. I then went
to the Pacific Coast, against the advice of friends who gave it as
their opinion that my style of plays would not take very well in
California. I opened for an engagement of two weeks at the
Bush Street Theater, in San Francisco, in a season when the
theatrical business was dull and Ben DeBar and the Lingards
were playing there to empty seats. I expected to play to a slim
audience on the opening night, but instead of that I had a four-
teen hundred dollar house. Such was my success that I con-
tinued my engagement for five weeks, and the theater was
crowded at every performance. Upon leaving San Francisco I
made a circuit of the interior towns and closed the season at
Virginia City, Nevada.

304 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

Some time previously I had made arrangements to go into th'
cattle business in company with my old friend, Major Frank
North, and while I was in California he had built our ranches on
the South fork of the Dismal river, sixty-five miles north of
North Platte, in Nebraska. Proceeding to O^alalla, the head-
quarters of the Texas cattle drovers, I found Major North there
awaiting me, and together we bought, branded and drove to our
ranches our first installment of cattle. This occupied us during
the remainder of the summer.

Leaving the cattle in charge of Major North, I visited Red
Cloud Agency early in the fall, and secured some Sioux Indians
to accompany me on my theatrical tour of 1877-78. Taking my
family and the Indians with me, I went directly to Rochester,
There I left my oldest daughter, Arta, at a young ladies' semi*
nary, while my wife and youngest child traveled with me during
the season.

I opened at the Bowery Theater, New York, September 3d,
1877, with a new border drama entitled, <* May Cody, or Lost
and Won," from the pen of Major A. S. Burt, of the United States
army. It was founded on the incidents of the «* Mountain
Meadow Massacre," and life among the Mormons. It was the
best drama I had yet produced, and proved a grand success both
financially and artistically. The season of 1877-78 was the
most profitable one I had ever had.

In February, 1878, my wife became tired of travelmg, and
proceeded to North Platte, Nebraska, where, on our farm ad-
joining the town, she personally superintended the erection of a
comfortable family residence, and had it all completed when I
reached there, early in May. In this house we are now living,
and we hope to make it our home for many years to come.

ON" A ROUND UP.

After my arrival at North Platte, I found that the ranchmen,
or cattlemen, had organized a regular annual ** round-up," to
take place in the spring of the year.

The word ** round-up " is derived from the fact that during

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

305

the winter months the cattle become scattered over a vast tract
of land, and the ranchmen assemble together in the spring to
sort out and each secure his own stock. They form a large cir-
cle, often of a circumference of two hundred miles, and drive
the cattle toward a common center, where, all stock being
branded, each owner can readily separate his own from the gen-
eral herd, and then he drives them to his own ranch.

In this cattle driving business is exhibited some most magnifi-
cent horsemanship, for the " cow-boys," as they are called, are
invariably skillful and fearless horsemen — in fact only a most

ON THE ROUND UP.

expert rider could be a
cow-boy, as it requires
the greatest dexterity
and daring in the saddle
to cut a wild steer out of
the herd. Major North
was awaiting me, upon
my arrival at North
Platte, having with him our own horses and men. Other cattle
owners, such as Keith and Barton, Coe and Carter, Jack Pratt, the
Walker brothers, Guy and Sim Lang, Arnold and Ritchie and a
great many others with their outfits, were assembled and were
ready to start on the round-up.

As there is nothing but hard work on these r^ and-ups, having
to be in the saddle all day, and standing guard over the cattle at
night, rain or shine, I could not possibly find out where the fun
came in that North had promised me. But it \ras an exciting life,
and the days sped rapidly by ; in six weeks we found ourselvel

306 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

at our own ranch on Dismal river, the round-up having proved a
great success, as we had found all our cattle and driven them home.
This work being over, I proposed to spend a few weeks with
my family at North Platte, for the purpose of making their
better acquaintance, for my long and continued absence from
home made me a comparative stranger under my own roof.
One great source of pleasure to me was that my wife was de-
lighted with the home I had given her amid the prairies of the
far West. Soon after my arrival, my sisters, Nellie and May,
came to make us a visit, and a delightful time we had during
their stay. When they left us I accompanied them to their
home in Denver, Colorado, where I passed several days visiting
old friends and scenes. Proceeding thence to Ogallala I pur-
chased from Bill Phant, an extensive cattle drover from Texas,
a herd of cattle, which I drove to my ranch on the Dismal river,
after which I bade my partner and the boys good-bye, and
started for the Indian Territory to procure Indians for mv
Dramatic Combination for the season of 1878-79.

PUTTING REAL INDIANS ON THE STAGE.

Having secured my Indian actors, and along with them Mr. C.
A. Burgess, a government interpreter, and Ed. A. Burgess,
known as the " Boy Chief of the Pawnees," I started for Balti-
more, where I organized my combination, and which was the
largest troupe I had had yet on the road, opening in that city at
the Opera House, under the management of Hon. John T. Ford,
and then started on a southern tour, playing in Washington,
Richmond and as far south as Savannah, Georgia, where we
were brought to a sudden halt, owing to the yellow fever which
was then cruelly raging in the beautiful cities of the *' Land of
the cotton and the cane,*'

THE Wild West in England.

] HEN the season of 1882-83
^^^is. closed I found myself richer
by several thousand dollars
than I had ever been before,
"\ ) having done a splendid
business at every place
where my performance
was given in that 3^ear. Im-
mense success and compara-
tive wealth, attained in the
profession of showman, stimu-
lated me to greater exertion and largely increased my ambi-
tion for public favor. Accordingly, I conceived the idea of
organizing a large company of Indians, cow-boys, Mexican
vaqueros, famous riders and expert lasso throwers, with acces-
sories of stage coach, emigrant wagons, bucking horses and a
herd of buffaloes, with which to give a realistic entertainment of
wild life on the plains. To accomplish this purpose, which in
many respects was a really herculean undertaking, I sent agents
to various points in the far West to engage Indians from several
different tribes, and then set about the more difficult enterprise
of capturing a herd of buffaloes. After several months of
patient work I secured the services of nearly fifty cow-boys and
Mexicans skilled in lasso-throwing and famous as daring riders,
but when these were engaged, and several buffaloes, elk and
mountain sheep \vere obtained, I found all the difficulties^ had

307

308 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

not yet been overcome, for such exhibitions as I had prepared to
give could only be shown in large open-air enclosures, and these
were not always to be rented, while those that I found suitable
were often inaccessible by such popular conveyances as street
cars. The expenses of such a show as I had determined to give
were so great that a very large crowd must be drawn to every
exhibition or a financial failure would be certain ; hence I soon
found that my ambitious conception, instead of bringing me
fortune, was more likely to end in disaster. But having gone
so far in the matter I determined to see the end whatever it
might be.

In the spring of 1883 (May 17th) I opened the Wild West
Show at the fair grounds in Omaha, and played to very large
crowds, the weather fortunately proving propitious. We played
our next engagement at Springfield, 111., and thence in all the
large cities, to the seaboard. The enterprise was not a complete
financial success during the first season, though everywhere our
performances were attended by immense audiences.

NATE SALSBURY JOINS ME AS A PARTNER.

Though I had made no money at the end of the first year, the
profit came to me in the way of valuable experience and I was in
no wise discouraged. Flattering offers were made me by circus
organizations to go on the road as an adjunct to their exhibitions,
but I refused them all, determined to win success with my prairie
Wild West Show or go down in complete failure. The very large
patronage I received during my first season convinced me that if
I could form a partnership with some one capable of attending to
the management and business details that the enterprise would
prove a magnificent success, a belief which I am glad to say was
speedily realized.

My career on the stage threw me in contact with a great many
leading stars, and I came to have an acquaintanceship with nearly
all my contemporary American actors. Among those with whom
I became most intimate was Nate Salsbury, a comedian whose
equal I do cot believe graces the stage of either America or En-

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL.

309

gland to-day. Aside from his popularity and wealth, acquired in
legitimate comedy, I knew him to be a reliable friend, and withal
endowed with a rare business sagacity that gave him the reputa-
tion of being one of the very best, as well as successful, managers
in the show business. Knowing his character as such, I ap-

NATE SALSBUEY.

proached him with a proposition to join me as an equal partner,
in putting the Wild West entertainment again on the road. The
result of my overtures was the formation of a partnership that
still continues, and under the new management and partner snip
of Cody & Salsbury, the Wild West has won all its glory.

310 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

The reader will pardon a digression from the general scope of
this autobiography for the probably more interesting, though all
too brief, allusion to the career of my esteemed partner, who has
won success in life by struggles quite as difficult and trying as
any through which I have passed.

Nate (Nathan) Salsbury was born in Freeport, 111., in 1846,
when his parents were in such humble circumstances that his
early training was all in the direction of * * digging sand and saw-
ing wood." As there was little to bind his affections to the
home of his nativity, when the war broke out Nate joined the Fif
teenth Illinois, with which he remained, as a private in the ranks,
sixteen months. In 1863 he again enlisted and participated in
a dozen battles and was wounded three times. His career as an
active participant was terminated by his capture and incarceration
in Andersonville prison, where he remained subjected to all the
horrors of that dreadful pen for a period of seven months. Be-
ing at length exchanged he returned home and entered the law
office of Judge Beck, now Chief Justice of Colorado, with the
idea of becoming a lawyer. A few months of office study and at-
tendance at commercial school only served to impress him with
the idea that the profession would still have a fairly large mem-
bership even though his name were not added to the list. Aban-
doning his former expectations he went to school for a time and
in the class exhibitions and amateur theatricals of his town de-
veloped a desire to go on the stage.

The first experience Nate had in search of a crown for his
greatest ambition was far from a pleasant one; Having saved
up less than a score of dollars he went to Grand Eapids, Mich.,
and there made application of the Opera House managers, Johnson,
Gates & Hayden, for a situation. Mr. Gates asked him his
line of business to which Nate modestly replied, ** Gh, anything."
*< Well," said Gates, " what salary do you expect?" ** Gh, any-
thing," was the equally prompt response. Seeing that the ap-
plicant had evidentl}^ not yet passed the threshhold of the pro-
fession. Gates said to him, in an indifferent manner. ** I will
give you twelve dollars a week and you* 11 be d — d lucky if you

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 311

get a cent/* He didn't; but he entered the profession, which
was the next best thing.

From Grand Rapids Nate went to Detroit, where he remained
three months without advancing himself either financially or
professionally. Somewhat discouraged he returned to his Illi-
nois home, but only to stay a few months, when his restless am-
bition prompted him to try his fortune in the East. Accordingly
he went to Baltimore, and thence to Boston, where he secured a
situation at the Boston Museum with a salary of twelve dollars
per week. Here his talent was soon discovered by the manage-
ment, who raised his salary to a twenty-eight dollars per week.
Others also saw the budding genius of Nate and after playing a
season at the Museum he accepted the position of leading heavy
man at Hooley's theater in Chicago.

His progress thenceforward was rapid, as his popularity grew
apace and his salary rose with every new engagement. But there
was too much originality in the man to permit of him remaining
a member of a stock company, so at the conclusion of his second
season at Hooley's he conceived and constructed a comedy enter-
tainment, with eight people in the cast, to which he gave the
title of *' The Troubadours." For twelve years this organiza-
tion, as originally formed, with very slight changes, continued
on the road and played repeatedly in all the largest cities with
splendid success.

Following ** The Troubadours," Nate wrote another comedy,
called ** Patchwork," which had a run of eighteen months, and
then he brought out his most successful comedy, ** The Brook,"
which he wrote entire in eight hours, and at a single sitting. This
piece he played continuously for five years, making a large
amount of money and pleasing millions of people, until he joined
me and took the active management of the Wild West Show,
which compelled him to withdraw from the stage.

A BIGGER SHOW PUT ON THE ROAD.

Immediately upon forming a partnership with Salsbury we set
about increasing the company anj^ preparing to greatly enlarge

312

STORY OF THE WILD WEST,

the exhibition. Nearly one hundred Indians

were engaged, among the number being the

Sitting Bull, and several

had distinguished them

massacre. Besides these

services of many noted

Buck Taylor, the great

er and King of the

Frank, John Nelson,

other well-known char

captured a herd of elk,

and some bears with

the chase.

, from several tribes,
world famous Chief
other Sioux that
selves in the Custer
we secured the
plainsmen, such as
rider, lasso throw-
Cowboys ; Utah
and a score of
acters. We also
a dozen buffaloes
which to illustrate

SITTING BULL.

THE SHOW IS DUMPED INTO THE MISSISSIPPI.

Our vastly enlarged and reorganized company gave daily ex-
hibitions in all the large cities to enormous crowds during the
summer of 1884, and in the fall we started for New Orleans to
spend the winter exhibiting at the Exposition Grounds. We ac-
cordingly chartered a steamer to transport our property and

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 313

troupe to the Cresoont City. Nothing of moment transpired on
the trip until we were near Rodney Landing, Miss., when our boat
collided with another and was so badly damaged that she sank in
less than an hour. In this accident we lost all our personal effects,
including wagons, camp equipage, arms, ammunition, donkeys, buffa-
loes and one elk. We managed, however, to save our horses. Dead-
wood coach, band wagon, and — ourselves. The loss thus entailed
was about $20,000.

As soon as I could reach a telegraph station I hastily sent a
telegram to Salsbury, who was with the Troubadours at Denver,
as follows: *' Outfit at bottom of the river, what do you ad-
vise?" As I learned afterwards, Salsbury was just on the point
of going upon the stage to sing a song when my rueful telegram
was handed him. The news hit him hard, but in no wise discon-
certed him ; stepping to the speaking tube connecting with the
orchestra he shouted to the leader, *' Play that symphony again
and a little louder, I want to think a minute." As the music
struck up he wrote out the following message : * * Go to New Or
leans, reorganize and open on your date," which I received and
promptly complied with his instructions.

In eight days I had added to the nucleus that had been saved a
herd of buffalo and elk, and all the necessary wagons and other
properties, completing the equipment so thoroughly that the
show in many respects was better prepared than at the time of
the accident — and we opened on our date.

A SEASON IN NEW YORK.

The New Orleans exposition did not prove the success that
many of its promoters anticipated and the expectations of Mr.
Salsbury and myself were alike disappointed, for at the end of
the winter we counted our losses at about $60,000.

The following summer we played at Staten Island, on the
magnificent grounds of Mr. Erastus Wiman, and met with such
splendid success that our losses at New Orleans were speedily re-
trieved. So well satisfied were we with New York that we leased
Madison Square Garden for the winter of 1886-87 and gave our ex-

314 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

hibition there for the first time in a covered space. We gave two
performances every day during the entire winter and nearly al-
ways played to crowded houses, though the seating capacity of
the place was about 15,000.

AN AMBITIOUS BUT HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING.

The immortal bard has well said, «' ambition grows with what it
feeds on.'' So with Salsbury and I, our unexampled success
throughout America with the Wild West show excited our
ambition to conquer other nations than our own. Though the
idea of transplanting our exhibition, for a time, to England had
frequently occurred to us, the importance of such an undertaking
was enlarged and brought us to a more favorable consideration
of the project by repeated suggestions from prominent persons
of America, and particularly by urgent invitations extended by
distinguished Englishmen. While inclined to the enterprise we
gave much thought to the enormous expense involved zn such
a step and might not have decided so soon to try the rather haz-
ardous experiment but for an opportunity that promised to large-
ly increase our chances of success.

Several leading gentlemen of the United States conceived the
idea of holding an American Exhibition in the heart of London
and to this end a company was organized that pushed the pro-
ject to a successful issue, aided as they were by several prominent
residents of the English capital. When the enterprise had pro-
gressed so far as to give flattering promise of an opening at the
time fixed upon , a proposition was made to Mr. Salsbury and myself,
by the president and directors of the company, to take our show
to London and play the season of six months as an adjunct of the
American Exhibition, the proposition being a percentage of the
gate receipts.

After a mature consideration of the offer we accepted it and
inimediately set about enlarging our organization and preparing
for a departure for England.

A great deal of preliminary work was necessary, but we set
manfully about the task of securing the services of a hundred

316 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

Indians, representative types of the Sioux, Cheyenne, Kiowa,
Pawnee and Ogalallas tribes, and succeeded in getting the re-
quired number, none of whom had ever been off their reserva-
tions prior to joining my show. Among the prominent chiefs
thus engaged was Eed Shirt, a redoubtable warrior and second
only in influence to Sitting Bull himself. A short while before
his engagement with us he had quelled an uprising among his
people, instigated by a pretender to the chieftainship of the
tribe, by invading the pretender's camp with only two of his
followers and shooting the leader dead before the eyes of his
affrighted wife. This fearless act had served to elevate him very
much in the eyes of his people, who thereafter accepted him as
a leader. When, therefore, he decided to join the Wild West
show, under the flattering offers I made him, his influence aided
us very much in procuring our complement of Indians, not only
from his own tribe, but from others as well.

SEEKING NEW WORLDS TO CONQUER.

Our arrangements having at length been completed, by col'
lecting together a company of more than two hundred men and
animals, consisting of Indians, cowboys, (including the celebrated
Cowboy band,) Mexican wild riders, celebrated rifle shots, buf-
faloes, Texas steers, burros, bronchos, racing horses, elk, bears,
and an immense amount of camp paraphernalia, such as tents,
wagons, stage coach, etc., we chartered the steamship State of
Nebraska, of the State line, Capt. Braes, and were ready to set sail
to a country that I had long wished to visit, — the Motherland.
Accordingly, on Thursday, March 31st, 1887, we set sail from
New York, the piers crowded with thousands of our good friends
who came down to wave their adieux and to wish us a pleasant
voyage. Our departure was an occasion I shall never forget,
for as the ship drew away from the pier such cheers went up as
I never before heard, while our Cowboy band played ** The Girl
I left Behind Me " in a manner that suggested more reality man
empty sentiment in the familiar air. Salsbury and I, and my
daughter Arta, waved our hats in sad farewells and stood upon

318 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

the deck watching the still cheering crowd until theyfao^ '\n
the distance, and we were out upon the deep, for the first time
in my life.

THE INDIANS* FEARS ARE EXCITED.

Before starting on the trip several of the Indians expressed
grave fears that if they trusted themselves to the great waters a
horrible death would soon overtake them, and at the last moment
it required all our arts of persuasion to induce them to go on
board.

Eed Shirt explained that these fears were caused by a belief
prevalent among many tribes of Indians, that if a red man at-
tempted to cross the ocean, soon after beginning his journey he
would be seized of a malady that would first prostrate the victim
and then slowly consume his flesh, day after day, until at length
the very skin itself would drop from his bones, leaving nothing
but the skeleton and this even could never find burial. This
gruesome belief was repeated by chiefs of the several tribes to
the Indians who had joined me, so that there is little reason for
wonder, that with all our assurances, the poor unlearned children
of a nature run riot by neglect, should hesitate to submit them-
selves to such an experiment.

On the day following our departure from New York the In-
dians began to grow weary and their stomachs, like my own, be-
came both treacherous and rebellious. Their fears were now so
greatly intensified that even Red Shirt, the bravest of his people,
looked anxiously towards the hereafter, and began to feel his
flesh to see if it were really diminishing. The seal of hope-
lessness stamped upon the faces of the Indians aroused my pity,
and though sick as a cow with hollow-horn myself, I used my ut-
most endeavors to cheer them up and relieve their forebodings.
But for two days nearly the whole company was too sick'f or any
other active service than feeding the fishes, in which I am not
proud to say that I performed more than an ordinary share.
On the third day, however, w^e all began to mend so far that I
called the Indians together in the mam saloon and gave them a

820 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

Sunday address, as did also Red Shirt, who was now recovered
from his anxiety about the future.

After the third day at sea we had an entertainment every af-
ternoon, in which Mr. Salsbury, as singer and comedian, took
the leading part, to the intense delight of all on board. On the
seventh day a storm came up that raged so fiercely that for a
time the ship had to lay to, and during which our stock suffered
greaily, but we gave them such good care, and had such excellent
luck as well, that none of our animals, save one horse, died on
the trip.

*' OFF GRAVESEND."

At last as we cast anchor off Gravesend a tug boat approaching
attracted the entire company on deck, for we were expecting to
meet our advance manager, Jno. M. Burke, with general instruc-
tions as to our landing, etc. It turned out, however, to be a
government boat loaded with custom-house and quarantine offi-
cials, under whom we were to pass the usual inspection. Another
official accompanied them, with whom arrangements had been
made for the passage of our arms, as a restriction was placed
upon the landing of our ammunition, of which we had brought a
large quantity, the English government regulations requiring that
it be unloaded and turned over to the arsenal authorities, in whose
charge it was kept during our stay in London, we drawing on
them daily for our supply as needed. I feel in duty bound to
acknowledge here that the English government, through its dif-
ferent officials, extended to us every kind of courtesy, privileges
and general facilities that materially assisted in rendering pleasant
the last few hours of a remarkable voyage. The bovines and
buffalo that were a part of our outfit were inspected, and a special
permit granted us to take them to the Albert dock, the place of
our debarkation, and after holding them in quarantine there for
a few days they were allowed to join us in camp.

Recent disastrous outbreaks of rinderpest, foot and mouth dis-
ease, and other ills that bovine flesh is heir to, necessitate the
law being very strict as regards importation of cattle, all foreign

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL 321

beasts being required to be killed within twenty-four hours after
their arrival.

SOME ANXIOUS REFLECTIONS.

uring this delay time was given me for reflection and gradu-
ally as my eyes wandered over the crowded waterway with its
myriads of crafts of every description, from the quaint channel
fishinff-boat to the mammoth East India trader and ocean
steamers, topped by the flags of all nations and hailing from
every accessible part of the known world, carrying the produc-
tions of every clime and laden with every commodity, I thought
of the magnitude of the enterprise I was engaged in and wonder-
ed what its results would be.

The freight I had brought with me across the broad Atlantic
was such a strange and curious one that I naturally wondered
whether, after all trouble, time and expense it had cost me, this
pioneer cargo of Nebraska goods would be marketable. In fact,
it would take a much more facile pen than mine to portray the
thick crowding thoughts that scurried through my brain. Stand-
ing on the deck of a ship, called the ** State of Nebraska," whose
arrival had evidently been watched for with great curiosity, as
the number of yachts, tug boats and other crafts which surrounded
us attested, my memory wandered back to the days of my youth,
Avhen in search of the necessaries of existence and braving the
dangers of the then vast wild plains, a section of which com-
prised the then unsettled territory of Nebraska. I contrasted
that epoch of my life, its lonely duties and its hardships, and al
its complex history, as the home and battle-ground of a savage
foe, with its present great prosperity and its standing as the em-
pire State of the central West. A certain feeling of pride came
over me when I thought of the good ship on whose deck I stood,
and that her cargo consisted of early pioneers and rude, rough
riders from that section, and of the wild horses of the same dis-
trict, buffalo, deer, elk and antelope — the king game of the
prairie, — together with over one hundred representatives of that
savage foe that had been compelled to submit to a conquering

322 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

civilization and were now accompanying me in friendship, loyalty
and peace, five thousand miles from their homes, braving the
dangers of the to them great unknown sea, now no longer a
tradition, but a reality — all of us combined in an exhibition in-
tended to prove to the center of old world civilization that the
vast region of the United States was finally and effectively settled
by the English-speaking race.

OUR RECEPTION IN ENGLAND.

This train of thought was interrupted by the sight of a tug
with the starry banner flying from her peak bearing down upon
us, and a tumultuous waving of handkerchiefs on board, evoking
shouts and cheers from all our company.

As the tug came nearer, strains of '* The Star Spangled Ban-
ner," rendered by a band on her deck, fell upon our ears, and
immediately our own Cowboy band responded with ** Yankee
Doodle," creating a general tumult on our ship as the word was
passed from bow to stern that friends were near. Once along-
side, the company on board the tug proved to be the directors of
the American Exhibition, with Lord Ronald Gower heading a
distinguished committee accompanied by Maj. Burke and repre-
sentatives of the leading journals, who made us feel at last that
our sea voyage was ended.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF LONDON.

After the usual introductions, greetings and reception of in-
structions, I accompanied the committee on shore at Gravesend,
where quite an ovation was given us amid cries of " Welcome to
old England" and "three cheers for Bill," which gave pleas-
ing evidence of the public interest that had been awakened in our
coming.

A special train of saloon carriages was waiting to convey us to
London and we soon left the quaint old Kentish town behind us,
and in an hour we arrived at Victoria station. The high road-bed
of the railroad, which runs level with the chimney tops, was a
novel sight, as we scurried along through what seemed to be an

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 323

endless sea of habitation, and I have scarcely yet found out
where Gravesend finishes and Locdon commences, so dense is the
population of the suburbs off the *' boss village " of the British
Isles, and so numerous the small towns through which we
passed. The impression created by the grand Victoria station,
by the underground railroad, the strange sights and busy scenes
of the *' West End," the hustle and the bustle of a first evening
view of mighty London, would alone make a chapter.

My first opinion of the streets was that they were sufficiently
lively and noisy to have alarmed all the dogs in every Indian
village in the Platte country, from the Missouri river to the
headwaters of the Platte, in its most primitive days,

A short trip on the somewhat dark and sulphurous under-
ground railroad brought us to West Kensington, a quiet section
of the West End, the station of which had been already connected
by special bridges, then nearly completed, with the grounds as
yet unknown to London, but destined to become the scene of
several months' continuous triumphs. Entering the headquar-
ters of the exhibition we found a bounteous repast set and a
generous welcome accorded us. The heartiness of my reception,
combined with the natural sense of relief after such a journey
and the general indications of success, proved a happy relaxa-
tion of the nervous strain to which I had been subjected for sev-
eral weeks. Speeches, toasts and well wishes, etc., accompanied
the spirited and spirituous celebration of the occasion. My
genial hosts' capacity for the liquid refreshments would have
made me envy them in the 60s, and led me to suspect that there
might be accomplishments in England in which even western
pioneers are excelled.

PREPARING THE EXHIBITION GROUNDS.

After brief social converse, and a tranquilizing smoke, we
made a easuai visit to the grounds, where the preparations for the
stabling, the aiena and the grand stand, with busy hundreds of
workmen hastenmg their completions by night by the aid of
tucigen lights anc* bon-fires, presented an animated scene, and a

324 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

display of energy rarely witnessed in cjonnection with an amuse-
ment enterprise. These operations were dealing with the expen-
diture of $125,000, including the fencing in of an arena more
than a third of a mile in circumference, flanked by a grand stand
filled with seats and boxes, estimated to accommodate 20,000 per-
sons. Sheltered stands for 10,000 more were also being erected ;
it being understood that room for 40,000 spectators in all should
be provided at each performance. For the Indian encampment
a large hill had been thrown up by spare labor, and this was al-
ready decorated by a grove of newly planted trees. The stables
for horses, mules and mustangs, and the corrals for buffaloes,
antelope, elk, etc., were all in simultaneous course of construction.
Everything so far impressed me very favorably and I began to
feel that if we did not command success we would, with our ad-
Vantages of location, surroundings and novelty and realism, at
least deserve it.

The interest evinced by the British workmen in my presence
detracting somewhat from their attention to business, caused us
to retire after a brief inspection. This same curiosity however
was as a straw indicating which way the wind blew. I was now,
for the first time, introduced in its own habitat to that world-
famed vehicle, the London hansom cab. In one of them I was
whirled through the West End, past the famous Hyde Park,
through Piccadilly, around Leicester and Trafalgar squares, to that
central resort and theatrical hub of this vast community, the
Strand. This narrow street, in its relation to the great city, re-
minded me of one of the contracted passes in the ** Rockies," to
which traffic had been naturally attracted, and usage had made a
necessity. The density of its foot traffic, the thronging herd of
omnibuses, the twisting, wrigglmg, shouting, whip-cracking cab-
bies, seemed like Broadway squeezed narrower, and I realized
at once the utility and necessity of the two-wheeled curio in
which 1 was whirled through the bewildering mingle of Strand
traffic. With but one or two hub-bumps we were soon landed at
the magnificent hotel Metropole, in Northumberland avenue,
where I met many American gentlemen from different cities, who

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 325

recognized me on sight and gave me hearty greeting. I retired
early, determined to retrace my steps to Gravesend at daylight
and ascend the Thames on board the Nebraska, as my great anxiety
was the successful debarkation.

ARRIVAL AT LONDON.

On an early tide that at its flood I now felt would lead on to for-
tune, with flags flying we entered, amid a perfect ovation, the great
port of London. The ship 's officers pointed out to us as we steamed
by them the places of historical interest.

With each horseman looking after his own mount, we were un-
loaded with a rapidity that astonished the old officials and hands on
the docks. Our entire outfit was as quickly loaded upon three rail-
way trains, for we were yet twelve miles from our future camp, and
speedily we were delivered, people and property, at the Midland rail-
way depot, alongside the grounds. By 6 p. m. our canvas city had
sprung up in the heart of the West End of London, and from our
flagstaff "Old Glory" floated in the British breeze. The Cowboy
band rendered "The Star-Spangled Banner, '^ and the vast crowds
that had gathered at all available lookouts gave a storm of cheers.
This was gratifying, and as an evidence of appreciation and grati-
tude the band gave them * ' God Save the Queen. ' *

Thus the Wild West and Bill Cody of Nebraska, U. S. A., were at
home in camp in London.

The dining tents not being up yet, our first meal was taken in full
view of our kindly and curious visitors. The meal was finished by 7
o'clock, and by 9 the tired occupants of the camp, Indians, Mexicans,
cowboys, scouts, men, women and children were peacefully and
snugly reposing after a long and arduous voyage.

HELPFUL INFLUENCE OF DISTINGUISHED PERSONS.

Henry Irving, the great actor ; his genial friend, John Toole ; Miss
Ellen Terry, Justin McCarthy, M. P. ; Minister Phelps, Consul Gen-
eral Waller and Deputy Consul Moffet assisted us greatly in the
ceremonies of landing. Our own Mary Anderson, Mrs. Brown-
Potter, Henry Labouchere, Chas. Wyndham, and, in short, all the

326 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

prominent members of the local literati and theatrical profession,
took immense and friendly interest in our enterprise.

Lord Ronald Gower and hundreds of other lords, knights and
ladies of high degree, besides a host of distinguished American resi-
dents of London, visited our camp and stables before the regu-
lar day of opening to give expressions of friendship, good-will and
encouragement.

Our motley and strange people, living in their primitive style, and
feats of our horsemen in their daily exercises were deeply interesting
to our visitors and the innate English love of horsemanship presaged
the success that came to us.

The press was generous to us to an extent probably never known
before. Its columns teemed daily with such eulogistic matter con-
cerning us and our enterprise that I almost feared we might not come
up to the expectations thus raised.

Beside the daily newspapers and literary magazines, Punch and
the other humorous periodicals did their best for us, after their man-
ner, and the poets were melodious about us. Shortly I began to
discover that my lines had fallen into the pleasant places that London
society ascribes to what it is pleased to term ' * the distinguished for-
eigner." I also discovered that, at least in such cases as mine, one
should have as many lives as a stack of black cats, all working at
once, or else have the attribute of ubiquity, to keep the pace that was
set for ^'Buffalo Bill,'' **Col. Cody," "Bill Cody," **Mr. Cody,"
et al. id omne genus — ^whatever that is.

TOO MUCH LEO

I was invited in one or the other of these characters, continuously
and numerously, to breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, suppers, garden
parties, athletic layouts, midnight doings, soirees, matinees, dedica-
tions and, in short, was overwhelmed with social attentions.

Of course, all this was pleasant to me as one who loves to live, but
I had business to attend to also, and very strenuous business, for the
Wild West, and I did my best to meet the demand. Then I was made
an honorary member of nearly all the clubs, social, festive, artistic,
fashionable, and many of them were distinctly distinguishing. No-

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 327

tably the Reform Club, where I met the Prince of Wales, the Duke of
Cambridge and other royalty. Then there was luncheon at the Man-
sion House with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress; dinner at the
Beaufort Club, where that fine sportsman, the Duke of Beaufort, was
host ; a memorable evening at the Savage Club with Mr. Wilson Bar-
rett— just home from an American tour — presiding, with such choice
spirits present as Henry Irving, John L. Toole and a host of others
of the art, literary and histrionic element of London and the world.
The Duke of Teck entertained me at United Arts Club, Lord Bruce
and other lords at the St. George's Club. The list of all these as
shown by my diary would be exhaustive of the peerage book and the
blue books and would also exhaust the reader, as it came near exhaust-
ing ** Buffalo Bill," *'Col. Cody," etc. And yet the rounds were
delightful and I appreciated the honors done me and my beloved
country. Through these I met frequently such charming and distin-
guished persons as Chas. Wyndham of the Criterion, Mr, Lawson of
the Daily Telegraph, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Wilde, Madame Minnie
Hauk, Mrs. Navarro, who was our own Mary Anderson ; Miss Emma
Nevada, Mrs. Brown-Potter, and hundreds of the kindred kind. One
of the most delightful affairs was a visit to Mr. Henry Labouchere on
the occasion of a glorious garden production by the Laboucheres of
' * A Midsummer Night 's Dream. ' '

These are decimatingly few of the many social courtesies extended
me, and I must say that considering the exacting demands upon me
by the preliminary arrangements for so large an exhibition as we
were preparing to give with the Wild West, and polite attention to
the social demands, it has since been a wonder to me how we succeeded
in giving such a great and acceptable a performance on the opening
day, and thereafter, for the show went on for months and the social
amenities kept gait and pace. To make the situating more exacting,
as to my personal work, the hundred or more Indians with us from
the Pine Ridge Agency were all new to the show and were of the wild
variety; besides, we had a hundred new ponies from the plains of
Texas that had never been bridled or saddled, much less shot over,
and all these had to be brought into at least Wild West discipline,
and largely under my personal supervision.

328 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES

A communication from Marlborough House of April 26, 1887,
resulted in an arrangement for a special performance for their Royal
Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, although everything
about the Wild West buildings was incomplete, the track unfinished
and held back by rainy weather and the hauling of huge timbers,
all combining to make the condition of the grounds unspeakably bad.
But for all this, I determined to pull through, as the Wild West
always suited me the better the more raw and wild that it was.

I retired the night previous to the visit, aching to the core with
care and fatigue, but with the hunter's pleasant anticipations after
striking a country where water is plenty and grazing good, two cir-
cumstances that always bring the frontiersman renewed confidence
and mental as well as bodily repose.

The entertainment to the future King of Great Britain and Em-
peror of India, with his royal party, was, of course, to be an exclusive
one and I got the royal box rigged as handsomely as circumstances
would permit and the taste of chosen artists could devise. The Eng-
lish and American flags were very prevalent in the decorations, and
it was my further object, beside entertaining the Princelings, to make
the occasion a grand, additional dress rehearsal.

The party that was conducted into our precincts was a strong one
numerically as well as in point of exalted rank. The Prince and
Princess of Wales with their three daughters, the Princesses Louise,
Victoria, and Maude, led the way. They were followed by the Mar-
quis of Lome and Princess Louise, his wife, the Duke of Cambridge,
H. S. H. Teck and son, the Comptesse de Paris, the Crown Prince of
Denmark, with numerous lords and ladies in waiting. The Prince of
Wales introduced me to his wife, afterward Alexandra, Queen-Con-
sort, and introductions to the other royal personages followed, in
which Nate Salsbury and Major John Burke were included.

His Royal Highness Edward, Prince of Wales, was then a man
under medium height, somewhat inclined to corpulency, mixed with
the indescribable manner that hedges royalty from constant associa-
tion with state ceremonials and the teachings of the ** divine right''

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 329

of kings ; there was in the being of this man the simple, plain-spoken
kindliness of a well-bred gentleman. He accepted the evident homage
that surrounded him as a matter of course, but did not act as though
he would exact it.

Many times subsequently I had the pleasure of meeting, and I
found less of the airs of office about him than I have many times seen
displayed by third-rate civic officials, even in our own dearly beloved
and highly-spoken-of democratic republic. But the republic is not
to blame for that, and true Americans rarely show it. The Princess
of Wales was a quiet, self-possessed and gentle lady much given to
innocent merriment and still speaking English, with a slightly-clipped
foreign accent.

All my apprehensions of a mishap because of the unfinished condi-
tion of things about the establishment were dispelled from the
moment the signal was given by *' command" of the Prince, and the
Indians, yelling like fiends, galloped out from their ambuscades and
swept around the enclosure like a whirlwind.

The effect was instantaneous and otherwise electric. The Prince
rose from his seat and leaned eagerly over the front of the box
and the entire party seemed thrilled effectually by the spectacle.
* ' Cody, ' ' I said to myself, ' ' You 've fetched 'em. ' ' From that moment
we were in all right — right from the word * * Go ! "

Every day in our aggregation was in capital form and the whole
thing went off grandly.

Our lady shot experts, on being presented at the finish, committed
the little solacism of offering to shake hands with the Princess, for,
be it known, feminine royalty offers the hand back uppermost which
the person presented is expected to lift with finger tips and salute
with the lips. However, the Princess was quick to perceive and she
solved the situation by taking the proffered hands, somewhat shaded
with gunpowder, and shaking them heartily.

The royal party inspected the Indian encampment after the per-
formance and the Prince had an extended conversation with Red
Shirt — extended for an Indian. The Princess, through the inter-
preter, gave the chief welcome to England to which the chief, with

330 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

great dignity, responded: "Tell the Great White Chief's wife that it
gladdens my heart to hear her words. ' '

The ladies of the suite patted John Nelson's half-breed pappoose
and when all visited my headquarters the Prince showed much inter-
est in the trappings and decorations there, and especially in the
gold-mounted sword presented to me by generals of the United
States Army with whom I had served in the boisterous years gone
and never to return.

The prince, who was an earnest sportsman and a bold rider to
hounds with the ' ' men folks, ' ' visited our stables, where were quar-
tered more than 200 bronchos and other equine help. He was pleased,
and I never felt prouder of the military methods that pervaded this
department of our aggregation. He quite won my heart by demand-
ing the full and particular history of my old war horse Charlie, who,
now in his twenty-first year, had carried me through many dangers
many times and once bore me in a flight of 100 miles in nine hours,
forty minutes, when chased by a band of hostile Indians. Old
Charlie seemed to like the attentions of royalty but he was very
democratic just the same.

At 7 that evening the royal visit ended. It had been an eminent
success, and the gratification of Major Burke — our major domo, so
to speak — Nate Salsbury, my business partner, and myself over the
outcome of the day presaging a season of unqualified success.

That the Wild West made a big impression in London could not
have been more emphatically proven than it was by the fact that even
Queen Victoria became interested and to us came the *' command"
for a special performance for Her Majesty and suite.

Of course. Royalty does not request, desire or invite persons in its
realm to do this or that, but ''commands" it to be done. Thus, "By
command of Her Majesty the Queen," a special performance was
given by the Wild West in order that this Queen of Great Britain
and Empress of India should have a private view of the exhibition.

Since the death of Prince Albert, her husband, which event had
occurred thirty years previous to this "command," the queen had
been more than ordinarily seclusive. She seldom appeared before
great assemblages of her subjects and her visits to even her parlia-

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 331

ment were rare. To theatrical performances she never went during
that long period of her mourning. Her latest knowledge of the great-
est actors and actresses of the time was gained by private perform-
ances given, by command, in her court, and these were infrequent.

The Wild West was altogether too big a thing to take to Windsor
Castle, and as in the case of Mahomet and the mountain, as the Wild
West could not go to the Queen it became absolutely necessary for
the Queen to go to the Wild West, if she desired to see it, and it was
evident that she did.

Of course, the entire outfit, Mr. Salsbury, Major Burke and myself
included, felt highly complimented by this unusual and remarkable
departure. The great London public was astonished, almost to the
extent of unbelief, the first impression being that the entire announce-
ment was simply a Yankee hoax.

Her Majesty was to arrive at five o'clock in the afternoon and I
was informed that she expected to give one hour to seeing all that
the Wild West could supply in the matter of its performances, withiii
that space of time, and she expected the whole thing. This was a
poser, but we determined to do the best we could.

A dais was erected and a special box constructed that was draped
in crimson velvet and otherwise extravagantly decorated to give
exclusion therein to her Majesty and the exalted notables of her train.
These preparations for the August visit being completed, our vast
company awaited with feelings akin to awe for the royal arrival.

With the punctuality that is conventional with royalty, this great
sovereign and suite came upon the tick of time and their car-
riages entered the arena and were driven around to the entrance
of the box that had been prepared.

With her Majesty came their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and
Princess Henry of Battenberg, the Marquis of Lome, the Dowager
Duchess of Athole, the Hon. Ethel Cadogan, Sir Henry and Lady
Ponsonby, General Lynedoch Gardiner, Colonel Sir Henry Evart,
Lord Ronald Gowen, and a collection of brilliantly uniformed mili-
tary attendants and exquisitely gowned ladies, forming a veritable
portiere of living flowers about the temporary throne.

Then another very remarkable incident occurred. Our entire

332 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

company of performers having been introduced in the usual manner
and the American flag sent around the arena at the hands of a
graceful and well-mounted horseman ,the statement preceded it that
this was an * 'emblem of peace and friendship to all the world. ' ' As
the standard bearer passed the royal box with ''Old Glory" her
Majesty arose, bowed deeply and impressively to the banner, and the
entire court party came up standing, the noblemen uncovered, the
ladies bowed and the soldiers, generals and all, saluted.

The incident thrilled, unspeakably, every American present, and
with the impulse of the West our company gave a shout such as had
never before been heard in Britain. Under ordinary circumstances,
that yell would have seemed uncouth; but this was a great event,
all saw it as such, hence the shout blended harmoniously with the
situation.

For the first time in history a British sovereign had saluted the
Star-Spangled Banner, and that banner was carried by a delegated
and exalted attache of Buffalo Bill 's Wild West.

The presence of the Queen gave mighty stimulus to our people and
the performance was admirably given. Every member of the com-
pany seemed determined to excel. The young women did unusually
successful shooting at their targets; my own shooting was the best
of its kind that I ever did ; the fight of the cowboys and Indians had
greater vim, even the bucking bronchos seemed to be under the
influence of the contagious enthusiasm and there never had been a
more excellent performance in the Wild West Exhibition from
beginning to end and in every specialty. Moreover, • her Majesty
instead of staying only an hour, decided to "sit out" the perform-
ance and then she sent the "command" that Buffalo Bill should be
presented to her. The compliments, deliberate and unmeasured, that
she gave me, that modesty mentioned in the opening of this story
forbids me to repeat.

She was a kindly little lady, not five feet high, but a gracious
queen for every inch. I presented Miss Lillian Smith, who was
herself a qiieen — with a Winchester rifle — and the young lady, with
the naivete of the western American girl that she was, talked with
royalty, on the solid footing of American sovereignty, showed the

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 333.

mechanism of the gun with enthusiasm, and Queen Victoria, deeply
interested, evinced that interest.

Then I presented Red Shirt, the Indian Chieftain, who was gor-
geous in war paint and feather trappings. His proud bearing was
fetching among the royal party, and when he spoke through an
interpreter, saying he had come a long way to see her Majesty and
**felt glad," the Queen smiled appreciatively, and as the red man,
unconventionally, but proudly, strolled away with the dignity of a
Supreme Court Judge, she seemed to say, *'I know a real prince
when I see him. "

Then came two Indian women with their brown pappooses strapped
to the shoulders of their mothers. The red babies were passed up
and royalty and retinue petted and patted them and the kids acted
as though they were used to that sort of thing.

Then the Queen and her suite ended their visit and the remarkable
episode in the life of a plain plainsman, who in boyhood had never
dreamed of meeting royalty on such a footing, and who would have
felt that would have been a big thing to meet, in a friendly way, the
mayor of Leavenworth.

But, besides royalty, there came to the Wild West, and my own
tent on the encampment, great men in statesmanship, art, poetry,
war and wealth, and they became my friends for life.

Shortly after this incident of the Queen's visit, came another
affair that was to be the third to royalty of the Wild West exhibi-
tions. A royal equerry came to Earl's Court bringing a further
''command" from her Majesty. It expressed the demand that on
the 20th of June a special exhibition by the Wild West should be
given in the morning to the kingly and princely guests of Queen
Victoria, on the occasion of her Jubilee.

Never before, since the world commenced, has such a gathering
honored a public entertainment. Caesar and his captive monarchs,
the Field of the Cloth of Gold, nothing in history can compare with
that assemblage of the mighty ones of earth that honored the Wild
West upon this occasion.

The gathering of personages comprised the King of Denmark, the
King and Queen of Belgium, the King of Saxony, the King of

334 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

Greece, the Crown Prince of Austria, the Prince and Princess of
Saxe-Meiningen, the Crown Prince and Princess of Germany, the
Crown Prince of Sweden and Norway, the Princess Victoria of
Prussia, the Duke of Sparta, the Grand Duke Michael of Russia,
Prince George of Greece, Prince Louis of Baden, and the Prince and
Princess of Wales with their children and a host of lords and ladies
unnumbered.

Our good old Deadwood Coach, ''baptized in fire and blood" so
repeatedly on the plains, had the inanimate honor of carrying on its
time-honored springs, four kings and the Prince of Wales, that day,
during the played attack of the Indians. The Prince said to me :
''Colonel, you never held four kings like these, did you?"

**IVe held four Kings," I replied, "but four Kings and the
Prince of Wales make a royal flush, and that is unprecedented.' *

The Prince took it, for I had taught him the great American game
of draw-poker, and he let off that hair-trigger laugh of his that has
been so well known to his intimates.

Of course, the joke was somewhat obscure to the other four-fifths
of the "hand," and I almost pitied Wales when he tried to explain,
in three languages, the intricacies of the joke. Still I could not
blame them, for experience has taught me that the game really needs
a lot of learning before one can understand it properly.

The crowned heads seemed to be quite satisfied when that ride was
over with, for the Indians did their shooting with aboriginal energy.

After our London engagement closed, which was one of the pleas-
antest periods of my life, we made a tour of the ' ' provinces. ' ' There
were Birmingham, Manchester and other English cities and for the
period of preparation for these I took advantage of the spare time
left to me by the hiatus to visit Italy on a two weeks ' vacation with
my daughter Arta. It was a well-earned vacation because from the
day of our opening in London to its close, I had not missed one of
the three hundred performances given during that engagement, not-
withstanding the multiplicity of social affairs that by courtesy I
was forced to observe and which professionally and socially kept me
occupied eighteen hours out of every twenty-four.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 335

A MAGNIFICENT OVATION

On Monday evening, May 1st, we gave the last indoor representa-
tion, in the presence of a vast and one of the most enthusiastic audi-
ences I ever appeared before; bouquets were presented to various
members of the company and when I appeared I met with one of
the warmest receptions of my life: bouquets were thrown, handed
and carried into the arena to me while the vast audience cheered,
waved hats, umbrellas and handkerchiefs, jumped upon their feet,
and in fact the scene was very suggestive of a pandemonium. It was
fully five minutes before the noise subsided sufficiently to enable us
to proceed with the performance.

Every act went with a rush and a cheer, and was received by
cries of ** bravo," **well done,'* etc. At the close of the exhibition
calls were made for Red Shirt and myself, in response to which I
thanked my patrons and assured them that the recollection of that
evening's display of kindness would ever be fresh in my memory.
Cries of ** bravo, Bill," and the singing of **For he's a jolly good
fellow" by the entire audience brought the demonstration to a close.

On Tuesday afternoon I was given a benefit by the race-course
people, on which occasion I concluded to give our outdoor perform-
ance on the race-course and despite the unfavorable weather the
turn-stiles showed that nearly 50,000 people had paid admission to
the grounds. This audience, like the one in the building the previous
evening, was also very enthusiastic and the people seemed to vie
with each other in showering applause upon the various acts and
features. . ^ -^^

A RACE FOR $2,500.

Our Wild West performances in Manchester were now at a close,
but having two or three days to spare I concluded to accept a chal-
lenge made some days previously by Mr. B. Goodall, a noted horse
breeder of Altrincham, for an international ten-mile race between
his English thoroughbreds and my American bronchos, for £500 a
side. The riders were J. Latham for Goodall and Tony Esquivel
for me, and the conditions were that each rider should change horses
without assistance at the completion of each half mile. The afternoon
was fine with the exception of one fierce though fleeting rain storm,

336 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

At five minutes to three o'clock thirteen of our bronchos, saddled
with heavy cow-boy saddles, were brought into the enclosure and
about ten minutes later nine English thoroughbreds made their
appearance. The men mounted their first horses at 3 :20 and got
away well, Latham at once taking the lead. The Englishman effected
his first change with an advantage, but on the next occasion he lost
this and Tony went to the front. Latham, however, gained a little
for some succeeding minutes. There was no question of the speed
of his horses, but Tony was more adroit in changing, and before
many laps were over he led the Englishman by a good two furlongs.
Then for a time Tony lost ground, but Lathem never succeeded in
overhauling him and he passed the post 300 yards ahead, having
made the remarkable time of twenty-one minutes. Wild enthusiasm
was manifested throughout the race by the 20,000 spectators and at
the termination of their arduous task both victorious Tony and
defeated Latham were loudly cheered.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC FAREWELL.

On Friday morning. May 4th, at 11 a. m., amid the cheers, well
wishes and hand shaking of the vast crowd who had gathered to see
us depart, we pulled slowly out of the Windsor Bridge station of the
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway en route by special passenger
train for Hull, where after giving our farewell English performance
we were to embark for home. The time of the arrival of our train
at the various stations had become generally known, and all along
the entire route we were met by vast crowds who cheered and wished
us God speed. Upon our arrival at Hull the crowd was so large that
it was necessary to send for a squad of police to enable us to make
our way through them from the station to the conveyances. On
Saturday afternoon. May 5th, we gave our farewell performance in
England, at Hull, before an enormous crowd and that evening at
9 o'clock our entire effects were aboard the good ship Persian Mon-
arch which, under the command of the brave, gallant and courteous
Captain Bristow, was to leave her moorings at 3 a. m. the next morn-
ing for New York. We had chartered the ship for this trip and had
everything to ourselves, and all evening the vast crowds who lined

(a) View of people waiting in line on Colfax Avenue to
view remains. This line was over two -and a half blocks long'
from 9:30 a. m. to 12:45 p. m., and when the doors were closed
over 12,000 people had failed to gain admittance.

(h) Line of people passing into Capitol Building to view
the remains of Colonel Cody. Eighteen thousand persons only
could gain admittance. United States Senators, Governors and
legislators, business and professional men, women and children
from every station mingled in their payment of homage.

(a) Funeral proceSsion ready for start from the Lincoln
Street entrance of the Capitol building to the Elks' Club. (Sol-
diers' Monument in the foreground.)

(ft) Colonel Cody's remains being carried on a caisson from
the State Capitol (where body was viewed by public) to the
Denver Elks' Club, where funeral ceremonies were held.

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(a) Colonel Cody's remains resting in Elks' Club, Denver,
under guard of soldiers and amid a bower of floral tributes sent
by loving friends from far and near.

(ft) Colonel Cody's remains lying in state surrounded by the
pallbearers, accompanied by Johnny Baker (with hat off), pro-
tege of Buffalo Bill.

THE END OF THE TRAIL. 337

the docks cheered, sang songs and wished us bon voyage. A great
many even remained until our departure and went wild with excite-
ment when they saw us as a company leave their shores perhaps
forever.

A PATHETIC INCIDENT AT SEA.

The homeward voyage was marked with one very distressing and
pathetic incident to me in the loss of my favorite horse Charlie, that
I had ridden for fifteen years in sunshine and in storm, in days of
adversity as well as of prosperity, and to whose fleetness of foot I
owed my life on more than one occasion when pursued by Indians.
He stood the voyage very well, apparently, until May 14th, and even
on the morning of that day when I visited him he seemed to be as
well as usual.

A few minutes after leaving him, however, a groom ran to me
and told me he had a chill. We did everything we could for him, but
it was useless. He had lung fever, and after three days' illness he
died. We could almost understand each other, and I felt very deeply.
The sailors stitched him up in canvas and he lay all day Thursday,
the 17th, on deck, covered with the American flag. At 8 o'clock in
the evening we dropped the body, properly weighted, into the ocean.
I did think of bringing him on here and burying him in his native
soil, but finally concluded not to do so.

I cannot describe my joy upon stepping again on the shore of
beloved America. Though I had received such honors while abroad
as few persons have been favored with, and scored a triumph, both
socially and professionally, that may well excite my pride, yet * 'there
is no place like home," nor is there a flag like the old flag.

With the happiness of returning to my own country again came
a double portion of joy in meeting with so many old friends whose
arms opened to welcome me. But of the particular pleasures of
these glad meetings it does not become me to speak now, since the
space at my disposal is already exhausted ; suffice it therefore to say,
that I am again before the American public with the Wild West
Show which is now performing for the season, at Erastina, Staten
Island, where we scored such a splendid success in the summer of
1886.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE END OP THE TRAIL.
By Col. William Lightpoot Visschee

After Colonel Cody wrote the foregoing narrative he seems to have
"dropped out of literature/' His business interests grew greatly
and he had little time to devote to anything else, though the excite
ment of his life did not abate in matters pertaining to the Wild West
and kindred affairs and his work of improving his beloved frontier
regions was redoubled.

At the time of the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago,
Colonel Cody and his associates established adjoining the grounds
of the fair a vast coliseum in which the Wild West was domiciled,
and here for many months, during the existence of the Great White
City, the entertainments of the Wild West, with all its appurtenances
enlarged and improved amazingly, were given twice daily during the
continuance of the exposition. Indeed, the Wild West was little
short of being a legitimate part of this the most comprehensive, beau-
tiful and important of all the world shows that have ever been given,
and it is not probable that it ever will be surpassed.

The Wild West visited Europe three times : first, that to England
in 1887, details of which have been given in Col. Cody's narrative.
The second visit was in 1889, to be an attraction at the Paris Exposi-
tion Universalle of that year. After the Paris engagement the Wild
West was taken to Spain, Italy, Austria-Hungary and Germany and
returned to America. In 1902 the exhibition was taken to England,
thence to Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Galicia,
Slavonia, Bohemia, Croatia, Belgium, Germany and Denmark, for
a tour of four years.

Everywhere it was received with wonder and acclaim and theu
triumphantly returned to America.

338

AUTOBIOGEAPHY OF BUFFALO BILL. 339

Upon the return of the Wild West to America, Col. Visscher
apostrophized the great pioneer, scout, showman, and patriot in the
following verses, which, to some extent, epitomizes the career of
** Buffalo Bill,'* and for that reason are incorporated here. The
verses are as follows :

A KNIGHT OF THE WEST.

To Colonel Wm. F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill")-

By Col. William Lightfoot Visscher

"Who is this gallant cavalier that rides in from the West?

His horse, and gun, and trappings are the truest and the bestj

He strides his noble thorobred with manly, easy grace,

And sits the saddle like a sheik, and rides a rattling pace;

His hair falls white and long adown his shoulders strong and wide,

And all his bearing has the poise of manliness and pride.

A sovereign born and citizen of this fair western land.
He rose among his fellows in the custom of command;
His boyhood heard the wailing that was echo of the yell
When the savage made the border seem the environs of hell;
With his dying father 's spirit, his hunting-knife and gun.
He drove the bronze barbarians into the setting sun.

'Mong the willows by the river, on mesa, hill and plain.
They fell beneath his horse's hoofs and 'fore his leaden rain;
Full well he wreaked his vengeance, and he blazed a western path,
With the weapons of his prowess and the scoring of his wrath.
From Missouri's murky waters to the white Sierra's crest,
This knightly man led dauntless men and empire to the West.

To save the name and legends, and traditions of that land —
The wilderness that blossomed — and its story strange and grand,
To the wondering sight of millions, and to sing its passing song.
He led toward the Orient his motley, nomad throng,
With their singing and their dancing, their weapons and their ways.
Their riding and their fighting in their tribe to tribe 's affrays.

From the canyons of the mountains to the canyons of the deep.
And to where the western nations close guard and jealous keep.
The monuments and tokens of their ancient rule and state.
There the gallant western chieftain rode among the titled great,
A fellow prince among the kings, a sovereign by the right
Of honest manhood, bred beneath high Liberty's clear light.

340 STOEY OF THE WILD WEST.

Where the altars of the Druids and ancient abbeys lie,

'Neath forest-covered ruins, marking centuries gone by,

And in places that are cob-webbed with history as old

As Britain's first traditions, lying deep in must and mold,

There the chieftain and his riders went, and held their hardy games

To plaudits of the multitude, lords, kings and royal dames.

By the Tiber, 'neath the shadow of St. Peter's lofty dome,
The mighty pile that canopies the hierarch of Eome;
Mid monuments and masonry, that crumbling in decay.
Teach the vanity of empire — how weak and fleet its sway —
Here rode the knightly plainsman, and his cabelleros sang
Where oft, in centuries agone, acclaim to Caesars rang.

'Mong potentates and powers, in the cities of the kings,

From where Mahomet's crescent across the Orient swings

To where the North sea booms against old Denmark 's rugged shores.

And back to where dear homeland opened wide to him her doors,

Went and came the dashing horseman, and he bore the banner high

That Freedom's heroes, for its weal, will dare, and do, and die.

When by this mighty inland sea the vast White City gleamed,
As radiant as mountain snows, the chieftain's banners streamed
Above his wide encampment, and from every clime and land
Came men to do him honor and to grasp his manly hand.
Even yet he leads his riders, and his lesson 's high and strong,
And here, saluting him, I sing this heartfelt, homely song.

Tonight, long since these simple lines were writ.

Before his pictured face I sadly sit,

Mourning that his great heart is stilled

And that the mighty soul that thrilled

With love of friends and country, true and tried,

Has gone, for aye, beyond the Great Divide.

When Cody, who was ''Buffalo Bill" for more than fifty years,
was such a little fellow that he was called Willie by everybody who
knew him, he became the mainstay of his widowed mother's family.
His father had been killed by the Indians and his home had been
burned by the savages. But all that is another story.

One who knows cannot start out to tell anything about Buffalo
Bill's life without being tempted to go off at a tangent, ten times a
minute, to relate other stirring tales, and true ones, in that man's
strange and eventful career, the incidents chase each other so closely.

But, as I was saying, when Will Cody was a little fellow, not more

THE END OF THE TRAIL. 341

than 12 or 14 years old — can you imagine that big, tall, white-haired
man, who rides a horse as if man and horse were one animal, and who
has been all over North America and Europe time and aagin, intro-
ducing to more than a hundred rulers and their people a congress
of the Rough Riders of the world ; can you imagine such a man as
once having been a kid himself ? Well, he was, and instead of playing
at "kill Indians" with wooden knives and toy guns he had to do the
real thing.

GREAT HELP TO HIS MOTHER.

Will Cody had to support his mother and sisters — or at least help
a great deal in that direction — and he was cheerfully willing to do it.

In those days, away out where begins what the schoolboys of the
time knew as the * ' Great American Desert, ' ' but which is now a land
of flourishing cities, towns, villages, farms, homes, gardens, art, lit-
erature and all that exalts and embellishes civilized life, there was a
trio of good men, partners, who had great caravans crossing and
recrossing the desert, opening the way for empire in the western
wilderness. Sometimes there were as many as fifty wagons in one of
those trains, though generally only twenty-five, and there would be
as many as fifteen or twenty of these trains out on the plains at one
time, often hundreds of miles apart, coming and going from the Mis-
souri River to the Rocky Mountains and beyond.

These wagons were huge, canvas-covered affairs that were almost
as big as the ships in which Columbus first crossed the ocean. They
were drawn by many spans of horses or yokes of oxen to each — often
from five to ten — and a small army of men, drivers and helpers,
accompanied each train.

This trio of partners had the firm name of Russell, Majors &
Waddell, and required a number of men to ride as messengers be-
tween the trains. The boy, Will Cody, secured one of these places.

On *'Cody day" at the trans-Mississippi fair in Omaha in 1900
the writer sat at a banquet table with Colonel Cody, Colonel Alexan-
der Majors, the late United States Senator John M. Thurston, Ed-
ward Rosewater, late editor of the Omaha Bee; Major John M.
Burke, the governors of Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri and other

342 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

notables of the region, and in his speech at the table Colonel Majors
told this, among other stories of Colonel Cody, the guest of the
occasion :

''One day, away back in the late '50s," said Colonel Majors, *'in
our Kansas camp, came to me a handsome, wiry lad who said that he
had his mother's permission to take a place with us as a messenger.
He seemed to think that his mother's permission entirely settled the
matter.

* ' I told him that I thought he was rather young for such strenuous
and hazardous work, but he made light of that, and there was about
him such an air of self-confidence, in that, and such diffdence and
modesty, in other ways, that he captured me at once and I gave him
the place, which was one of peril, requiring caution, coolness and
endurance. His duty was that of carrying dispatches between our
wagon trains upon the march across the plains. Little did I think
then that I was starting out in life one who was destined to win fame
and fortune throughout the world.

''When 'Little Billy Cody' received his first month's pay, which,
I think, was $40, he took the money, some gold, mostly silver, to his
mother and spread it out over the table, gleefully exclaiming:
' Lookee, mother ain 't that a big lot of money ? ' "

At this point in Colonel Major's remarks some one at the table
called out:

"Yes! and he's been spreading it ever since."

Continuing, Colonel Majors said: "The firm of Russell, Majors
& Waddell required all of its employes to sign a pledge not to indulge
in profanity, intoxicating drinks and brawling, and to that the
majority kept well, for the most part. This was especially true of
young Cody.

"Then it was simply 'Little Billy Cody, the Messenger,' next it
became 'Wild Bill, the Pony Express Rider,' then 'Bill Cody, the
Wagonmaster, ' then 'Buffalo Bill, the Hunter, Scout and Indian
Fighter,' now Colonel W. F. Cody, the head of a mighty school of
history and ethnology, the friend and associate of statesmen, artists,
men of letters, kings, presidents and all manner of potentates and
people of importance ; the head of one of the greatest enterprises for

THE END OF THE TRAIT. 343

the reclamation of arid lands ; a true and honest man and a valuable
citizen.

"With the inborn gift of a perfect borderman, Buffalo Bill led
armies across deserts and over mountains, through most appalling
dangers and to the farthest retreats of savages who carried on cruel
raids against those who were endeavoring to settle the far West that
to this republic has now come to be a source of incalculable wealth
and to the world a mighty help.

"This man never sought the reputation of a 'killer,' and was
careful to avoid brawls, yet never halted in the discharge of duty,
even in the face of direst danger. He fought the Indians to the
redskin's last stand, and yet was his friend and has always had the
best respect of the warring tribes.

LOVE AND DEVOTION TO HIS MOTHER.

* ' One of Buffalo Bill 's finest characteristics was his love and devo-
tion to his mother, a mother most worthy the devotion of such a son.
When he first came to me he had to make his mark when signing the
pay roll, and he drew a man's pay because he earned every dollar
of it, after his first month. One pay day, his mother being with him,
the paymaster told him to come up and make his mark and get his
money. The boy's face flushed when he saw tears come into his
mother's eyes and heard her whisper, 'Oh, Willie, if you would only
learn to write, how happy I would be. '

"A boy's opportunities for education in that region and day were
meager enough at best, much less were they for a boy in Cody's place,
who lived his days in the saddle, riding hard for duty's sake and
often at the risk of his life from the bullet or arrow of the lurking
savage. But when young Cody saw the tears in his mother's eyes,
because of his lack of letters, he set at work immediately to acquire
the art of penmanship, and in a little while he was issuing editions
of his name, in different styles, almost anywhere, and sometimes it
got him into trouble. *Will Cody,' 'Little BUly,' 'Billy the Boy
Messenger' and 'William Frederic Cody,' were written with the
burnt end of a stick, with chalk or charcoal, upon tents, wagon covers
and all tempting and available spaces, with great frequency and

344 STORY OF THJS WILD WEST.

appalling crudity, at first, while with hunting knife he carved upon
ox yoke, wagon body, bench, door, side of the house, wherever he
could find wood enough, the name with which he has since made his
mark on a page of history. ' '

* * I 'm almost the only one left now, ' ' he would say. * * Almost the
only one left. And I guess I haven 't so very long to go. ' ' And with
the death of Buffalo Bill there dies an idol — an idol in the eyes of
every boy in the United States, and almost of the world. For Buffalo
Bill's fame was not the fame of the United States. It was a fame
that extended to Europe, and to Africa, and to Asia. Boys of China
have thrilled over the exploits of Buffalo Bill, even though they
never have seen him. Boys of Spain have gazed upon the buffalo
killer; boys of France and Germany and Hungary and England and
Scotland have done likewise, and worshipped his prowess almost as
much as the boys of America have done. The news of Buffalo Bill's
death will not be confined to the United States. It will travel into
the fighting trenches of Europe, into the Orient, and into Africa.
For the fame of Pahaska was world-wide.

PAHASKA FRIEND OF THE INDIANS.

But those who will mourn the most are nearer home — up there on
the stretches of South Dakota 's prairies where live the remainder of
the valiant Sioux, the Indians whom he fought and whom he be-
friended. Perhaps you have thought that the Indian would look
upon Buffalo Bill as an enemy, as the man who had fought them and
driven them from the plains. But that is not true. Pahaska — ^they
named him that because of his long hair — ^was their friend, and they
accepted him as such. I have seen the time when the braves of the
Ogallalah and Sioux tribe have brought their papooses a hundred
miles and, with happiness shining in their eyes, lifted them high in
the air that the great Pahaska might pat them on the head and give
them his blessing.

* * He never fought us except when we needed it, ' ' old Short Bull,
the man who is supposed to have caused the Ghost Dance war, told
me one day, **and he was our friend even when he fought us. He
killed us because we were bad and because we fought against what

THE EMD OP THE TRAIL. 345

he knew was best for us. And when there was peace, he was our best
friend. Did he not talk to the Great White Spirit in Washington
and help us ? Did he not get food for us when we were starving ?
Did he not give us money from his own hands that we might live ?
No, Pahaska has not been our enemy. He has been our friend. ' '

Such are the people who will mourn for Pahaska out on the plains
of the Dakotas. And there will be another class also — ^the class that
is almost numberless, the world of the Small Boy.

For Buffalo Bill was a man 's man and yet a boy 's man. He was
all that was desired in the form of romantic manhood. His stories
were the stories that thrilled — the yarn of his duel with Yellowhand,
when the renegade challenged him before thousands of Indians and
soldiers, only to meet death at Colonel Cody's hand. Then, too,
there were the stories of the Battle of Warbonnet and of Summit
Springs. There were the stories of trails and of plains — and many
a time I have seen the Colonel, an island in an ocean of small boys,
telling them the stories of the past, the stories of days when the
warhoop echoed and the tomahawk was something more than a
tradition.

And yet another world will honor him — the world of the Army.
For there Colonel Cody was respected and honored as a man apart, a
man who occupied a niche distinctive in life. From. Gen. Nelson A.
Miles, for whom he acted as scout in the early days, down to the
veriest rooky, the name of William Frederick Cody was a charmed
one. And they recognized in him that being which linked the early
days of army history in the West to the records of today. The Army
and the West and Cody — the three things were inseparable. And
with the news of the death of William Frederick Cody the army will
sorrow with the small boy and the Sioux as they say :

''Farewell to Pahaska!"

Early one afternoon, a few summers ago, the writer sat with
Colonel Cody under the awning of his tent with the Wild West
exhibition. The vast affair had moved during the small hours of
that morning from a "stand" on the West Side in Chicago to one
on the North Side. At the end of a little spell of silent ruminating
Colonel Cody looked up and said :

346 STORY OP THE WILD WEST.

''By Jinks ! I 'm a scout all right, but dog my cats if I could find
the way back to where we came from last night. ' '

On the same occasion, when Colonel Cody was absent for a moment,
his little orphan grandson came in and told his foster mother, his
Aunt Irma, that grandpa had said he might ride on the Deadwood
coach in the arena, if he would hold on tight.

' ' AVell, we will see grandpa about that, ' ' said Aunt Irma. At that
moment the colonel entered and his daughter inquiringly said:
' ' Willie says that you told him he might ride on the Deadwood stage
if he would hold on tight?"

' ' I said, ' ' replied grandpa, "that if he rode on the coach he 'd have
to hold on dog-gone tight.' '

Soon the boy was away somewhere among the Indians, Arabs,
Cossacks and what-not, and Colonel Cody, calling to a helper about
the place, said: "Murphy, put little Mister — er — What 's-his-name
on the coach."

Then after looking down for a moment he turned with his peculiar
far-away smile to those present and said :

"Blame my skeets if I hadn't forgot the boy's name, and he's
named after me. ' '

This exhibits Colonel Cody's sulphurous style of swearing, and it
was about the only kind of ' ' cussin ' ' that he did. He was exceedingly
fond of children and had a way with them that was wonderfully
winning. Often when they were gathered about him one would say :

' ' Tell me a story, Buffalo Bill ! "

And what wonderful stories they would be ! What tales he would
weave as they clustered about him, back in his little tent at the edge
of the great ' ' exhibition top, ' ' where he invariably would gather his
juvenile audiences in the afternoons ! What thrilling yarns of the
plains and the crested buttes, of long rides through the snows and
sands, of hand to hand encounters with the Injuns — masterpieces
they were, for he had lived them — and one by one he would recount
them until the shuddering little forms of his excited listeners would
gather close to him and hug his big booted legs for protection, yet
Would repeat with the blood-curdling finale of every narrative :

' ' Tell us another, Buffalo Bill ! ' '

THE END OP THE TRAIL. 347

*'What, another?" Once you heard that great, deep, booming
voice, with the laughter hidden away in the corners of it, the strong
joy of it never faded from the memory. And with that big voice,
which thundered in spite of the gentleness it carried, he would ask
the question in apparent surprise as he reared back his tremendous
shoulders ; then with tender strength he would gather his audience
close again to him and travel on to the depiction of new thrills, new
exploits. And so it is that the eyes of many a child have been wet
with tears since the news flashed forth that Buffalo Bill had gone
past the last frontier, that many a * * Now I lay me ' ' has included the
supplicating words of childhood :

"And God— bless Buffalo Bill."

Will Cody was the handsomest young man I ever saw. He was
as quiet and unassuming a lad as ever cinched a pony. There was
about him a manner of reserve that nearly approached shyness and
he would have been almost awkward in personality had it not been
for his manliness of form and strength of physique that gave him
the graces of nature. This has been true of him all his life, notwith-
standing that his career has led him all the way from messenger
boy between trains of ' ' prairie schooners, " in the early days on the
plains, to be the associate of kings, dukes, princes, queens and duch-
esses, governors, presidents, millionaires, statesmen and men of
letters and art for three generations,

Buffalo Bill played a big part in his life, served his country as a
soldier, blazed the western way and taught three generations great
facts in history and ethnology with his strong object lesson, the
Wild West. Withal he proudly bore "Old Glory" wherever he
went, to be kissed by the breezes of the Old World and the New.

Now he has gone and is mourned by unnumbered thousands
throughout the world. He left on the trail over the Great Divide
at Denver, Colorado, January 10th, 1917. Prominent men and
women from many states and civilized nations journeyed to Denver
to attend his funeral. Cities did him honor and legislatures ad-
journed for the obsequies. In very many ways the funeral of
Colonel Cody attested greater interest on the part of the world
than if he had been an important ruler.

348 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

On Sunday, January the 14th, 1917, followed by a vast cortege
of citizens, persons and societies, the mortal remains of Colonel Cody
were taken in Denver to the Capitol of .Colorado. The casket in
which the body was borne and in which it is to rest is of solid bronze
and constructed in the most superbly and appropriately ornamental
way. From the residence of Colonel Cody's sister, Mrs. May Cody
Decker, on Lafayette street, the procession moved at 9:30 in the
morning. The body was immediately escorted by the officers of
Denver Lodge No. 17, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and the
active and. honorary pall bearers. Upon the arrival at the state
house four members of the B. P. 0. E., four members of the Grand
Army of the Republic and four members of the Colorado National
Guard, took their places about the casket as the guard of honor.

The garrison of United States troops stationed at Fort Logan
arrived with the cortege at the capitol and the military band that
came with the soldiers played sacred music as the public passed by
the catalfaque to view for the last time the face of Buffalo Bill. The
infantry was formed in two lines facing each other, and these ex-
tended from Colfax Avenue on Sherman, through the capitol build-
ing to the East Fourteenth Avenue entrance.

OLD AND YOUNG, RICH AND POOR, PAID THEIR TRIBUTE TO MEMORY OF

BUFFALO BILL.

They bade good-by to Buffalo Bill — thousands and thousands
of persons. They braved the cold and the discomfort of stand-
ing to shuffle past his bier and drop a flower or tear. Men of high
estate and low ; women gowned in fashion 's latest word and women
who came from humble homes ; boys and girls by the hundreds who
wished the last look at the face of their idol ; statesmen who relin-
quished the cares of office to pay homage to the famous old frontiers-
man.

Ne/er in the history of the West has one who lay dead been
accorded so great a demonstration of tribute.

In the rotunda of the capitol Buffalo Bill lay, a silent figure deaf
to the playing of the band in the gallery, knowing not that the
thousands were surging through the doors, with armed soldiers

THE END OF THE TRAIL. 349

struggling constantly to prevent their crushing, seeking to stand
for a moment or so at his side. It would have warmed the heart of
the old scout. His great black eyes would have flashed, his lips
would have laughed, he would have given frank expression of joy
that so many had come to see and honor him. He would have liked
to grip the hands of those old scouts, pards of his in the early days,
who murmured their good-bys in voices that broke. He would have
delighted in bowing to those governors and state officials from
Nebraska and Wyoming and Colorado — ^the states in which he
wrote with daring deeds the fame that was international — ^who in
common with the poorly dressed, the handsomely dressed, the poor
and the rich, the humble and the high, stood in the long line to wait
their turn. And the children — Buffalo Bill would have liked to
pat their heads, tell them a story, put his strong arms about them
and clasp them close.

But Buffalo Bill was dead — ^his horse stood without, the old worn
saddle, with its gleaming brass pommel, on his back, the bridle
reins sagging loose. The animal champed its bit and pawed the
earth and quick-stepped for the throng that passed. Perhaps he
waited in expectation for his master to come, to leap with his old-
time agility to his back, catch up the reins and, rising in the stirrups,
sweep off his broad-brimmed hat and — ** Salute from the saddle."

But the horse walked riderless in the procession that left the
capitol and followed, through the lanes made by crowds that milled
on the sidewalks, the body of Buffalo Bill. And the band played
no lively airs that the old scout loved and thrilled to — they played
the sorrow-laden marches of death. It was Buffalo Bill's last great
triumph — and he knew it not.

At the Elks' Club the entire front of the auditorium was a mass
of flowers — ^floral tributes from every state in the Union, from
friends Buffalo Bill had made in every walk of life. Near the
casket sat Johnny Baker, head bowed, murmuring tender words
he wanted Buffalo Bill, the man whom he loved as a father and by
whom he was loved as a son, to hear. With Johnny Baker sat the
widow and other members of the famous old plainsman's family.

When the casket was borne into the flower-filled room at the

350 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

mortuary, the escort and such of his friends as could find voice, sang
after the prayers and eulogies, the soft trailing notes of the song
that Pahaska loved, * ' Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground. ' '

As the song was sung there were tears in the eyes of strong and
rugged men who remembered the melody in other days ; tears for the
love of a comrade gone to the land of the setting sun into the Great
Beyond.

Three organizations took part in the services — ^the Ladies of the
Grand Army of the Republic, the Grand Army of the Republic and
the Elks. A flag was placed on the breast of the old scout by Mrs.
Fannie D. Hardin of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic.
The Grand Army of the Republic services ended with the sounding
of '*taps.'' John W. Springer pronounced the eulogy for the
Elks and Albert U. Mayfield, supreme boss of the National Order
of Cowboy Rangers, said a few words of tribute.

The Rev. Charles H. Marshall of the St. Barnabas Episcopal
Church conducted the religious services.

And then the casket was closed — ^the picturesque figure of Buffalo
Bill had passed from the view of men. From the Elks' Club the
body was taken to the mortuary of George W. Olinger. It will
rest there until it is carried to the final resting place — a grave that
will overlook the plains he loved so well — on Lookout Mountain.
And there the thousands will pass year after year and pause to gaze
at the statue of Buffalo Bill that will be erected, and to pay tribute
to the memory of a man who helped to build the greatness of the
West, who was beloved of kings and presidents and of little children.
It will be a fitting place for the body of Buffalo Bill to lie buried —
where the world can continue to pay its tribute.

Messages of sympathy and condolence poured in upon the family
from all parts of the world. It is thought to be a fitting close for
the autobiography to reprint a few of these showing the high esteem
in which *' Buffalo Bill" was held as a man and friend.

FROM GEN. NELSON A. MILES.

''Colonel Cody was a high-minded gentleman, a brave American
and a great scout. He performed a great work in the West for

THE END OF THE TRAIL. 351

the pioneers and for the generations coming after them, and his
exploits will live forever in history. ' '

FROM THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN CLUB.

The Rocky Mountain Club, an organization of former Western
men now living in the East, passed the following resolutions :

The news of the passing away of our fellow member. Col. William
P. Cody, brings sorrow to all of us. Colonel Cody was the one
remaining hero of all time whose name is indelibly entwined in
the redemption of our great West from barbarism and savagery,
making it the hand-maiden of civilization and progress. His fame
will shine in history in lines of living light with those other pioneer
American crusaders, Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett and Kit Carson.
He was gentle, sincere, brave, loyal and manly, and the world is
the poorer for his passing. His fellow members of the Rocky Moun-
tain Club ask you to present to his widow and family their respectful
homage and sympathy.

FROM A BOY.

''Mr. Buffalo Bill, Denver, Colo.: Dear Sir— My grandpa told
me this morning you were ready to start for the happy hunting
grounds. He said a long time ago they had perhaps given you the
end of a golden string and told you to wind it into a ball and you
had it most all winded up and it had led you to the happy hunting
ground, and after you got there they would lock the gate and throw
the key away, as you were the last one they had been waiting for.
Mr. Buffalo Bill, I want to go to the happy hunting ground too.
It looks to me like a nicer place than just heaven where they have
only gold streets and harps and angels and things. Mr. Buffalo
Bill, will you please take the key and hold the gate and make room
for just me ? I am a little fellow and don't take much room nohow,
and I will come as soon as I get through here. Then they can lock
the gate and throw the key away forever and ever.

*' ROBERT CURTISS TALBOTT.

352 STORY OF THE WILD WEST.

FROM THE SONS OF COLORADO.

Resolutions in memoriam on the life, character and death of
William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) were adopted by the Sons of Colo-
rado as follows :

We, the Sons of Colorado, in annual meeting assembled this 11th
day of January, 1917, being mindful of the passing of the **01d
West,'* do herewith take cognizance of the death of our boyhood
friend and hero, ''Buffalo Bill," a product of the ''West that was."

Where men's souls were tried to the utmost, where women suf-
fered untold tortures and privations, Buffalo Bill had kept the
memories of those days alive as no other could.

By his death the West loses virtually the last of the picturesque
figures of those times. His home was the West. No state, no county,
city or town could claim him. He belonged to the West.

We recognize, as will history, his wonderful life and activity on
the frontiers of this great western empire, the memory of which
will live long in the hearts and minds of men of every nation of
this earth.

Be it resolved that we, the Sons of Colorado, feela sense of great
loss, that our old friend, Buffalo Bill, is no more.

Be it further resolved that these resolutions be spread upon our
minutes and that a copy be sent to the bereaved family.

CHILDREN SEND IN NICKELS FOR MONUMENT TO CODY.

The first contribution to a fund for the building of a monument
to Colonel Cody included forty buffalo nickels sent by the pupils
of the primary and grammar grades of the Maple Grove school,
district No. 69, Arapahoe county, ' ' to build a monument to Buffalo
Bill."

The donation was brought to Denver by Principal Robert M.
Jones, who, with Orrie M. Heath, teacher in the primary grade,
collected the fund.

The subscription was received by a committee consisting of Cody
Boles of North Platte, grandson of Colonel Cody; Judge W. L.
Walls and Sen. J. M. Schwoob of Cody ; H. R. Weston of Laramie,
and Sam F. Button of Denver.

)V7

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Full text of "Buffalo Bill's own story of his life and deeds; this autobiography tells in his own graphic words the wonderful story of his heroic career;"

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